Our most valued volunteer candidates are those that enjoy interacting with the general public and providing tremendous customer service.
Please choose one or more of the available volunteer opportunities listed below. New opportunities are regularly posted to this page, so please check back if there is not currently an open opportunity that matches your skills and interests.
When you find a volunteer opportunity for which you would like to apply, please click the "Apply Here" link below:
APPLY HERE
Special Event Volunteers
Do you love APL and want to help the public participate in programs? The library is looking to grow a team of special event volunteers to help provide ongoing assistance to APL with one-time events throughout the year. Duties may include helping customers participate in events, providing directional assistance, and keeping areas tidy. Volunteers are not required to meet a monthly time commitment, but will assist with special events on an as needed basis. Past events include the Kids Block Party, Dinovember, and International Lego Day, among many others. Event locations vary, while shifts are between two and four hours. This can be an ideal way to frequently volunteer with us without making a weekly commitment.
Current needs:
- If you are interested, please submit an application!
Central Library Youth Field Trip Assistant
The Central Library is a popular school field trip destination. We are always excited to see our Austin students in the building and we want their experience to be as thorough as possible. We are looking for volunteers available school day mornings to assist staff with welcoming buses, answering questions, providing directions, and other tasks as requested. Other duties during volunteer shifts include shelving books in the Children's Room and Teen Room, marketing the collection by refilling book displays, and becoming familiar with the layout of the Central Library. Experience working with children is preferred.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Central Library Storytime
The Central Children's Library team would like to recruit adult volunteers to assist with storytime! Volunteers would help with general storytime assistance tasks, like preparing the storytime area, taking attendance numbers, resetting the room after storytime, wiping down storytime accessories, and shelving library materials.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Central Library Circulation
Our Central Library circulation volunteers help with all things circulation. This includes customer service, putting items back on shelves, pulling holds, tidying book shelves, and so much more. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 pounds and to bend, stoop, and stretch with or without reasonable accommodations. The position is best suited for those who love to organize and like to work independently. Shifts are two hours with a minimum three month commitment required.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Central Library Tour Guides
Do you love the new Central Library and want to show it off to the public? Do you enjoy working with people and providing information? Then help us showcase our beautiful, library! We are looking to build a team of volunteers to provide private tours to the public. Help us provide access to information in our world class facility.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Centralized Shipment
The Centralized Shipping department at the Central Library need some highly motivated volunteers to help get our library materials ready to be distributed to branches. Volunteer duties include opening heavy boxes, unpacking library materials, making a record of the materials, and placing the materials into bins being sent out to branches.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Central Library Children's Room Greeter
Want to make a difference in the busiest section of the Central Library? Do you have experience working with children? Come welcome families, help kids find books, answer basic questions, and help keep the Children's Room tidy. This is also a great job for buddies so grab a friend and apply together!
Current needs:
- Sundays - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Branch Circulation
Our circulation volunteers help with all things circulation in our branches. This includes customer service, putting items back on shelves, pulling holds, tidying book shelves, and so much more. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 pounds and to bend, stoop, and stretch with or without reasonable accommodations. The position is best suited for those who love to organize and like to work independently. Shifts are two hours with a minimum three month commitment required.
Current needs:
Hampton Branch | 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
- Now accepting applications!
Pleasant Hill Branch | 211 E. William Cannon Dr.
- Now accepting applications!
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- Monday or Thursday - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday or Wednesday - 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Windsor Park Branch | 5833 Westminster Dr.
- Tuesdays - any shift
- Thursdays - any shift
- Saturdays - any shift
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Mondays - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Tuesdays - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
- Wednesdays - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Thursdays - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Fridays - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Saturdays - 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Central Library Teen Room Alienware Assistance
The Central Library's Teen Room has Alienware gaming PCs that need weekly updates. We are looking for tech-savvy volunteers that could help us with getting these computers updated each week. The computers are popular so we really need the help!
Current needs:
-
No opportunities at this time.
Central Library Gift Shop Assistant
The Central Library's gift shop is looking for customer service-oriented volunteers, ideally with retail experience. Duties include greeting visitors, becoming knowledgeable on products offered, helping customers navigate the building and surrounding area, and completing the gift shop experience.
Current needs:
-
Mondays - 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
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Fridays - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
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Saturdays - 12:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Central Library Marketing Team assistant
Our marketing team at the Central Library is looking for a self-motivated, detail-oriented assistant to help with organizing their in-person materials and promotional items. This position has a decent amount of lifting and opening boxes. May also include some light clerical and computer duties.
Current needs:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays - 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Library Program Promotor (hybrid in-person/virtual)
We need motivated and flexible volunteers to help promote and raise awareness about library programs and events. This position includes both an in-person and virtual component.
Current needs:
Cepeda Branch | 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.
- Now accepting applications!
Program Assistant
We need motivated and flexible volunteers to help run our programming at various branches.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Recycled Reads Bookstore Assistant | 5335 Burnet Road
Recycled Reads is Austin Public Library’s used bookstore. All proceeds benefit APL. Recycled Reads volunteers assist staff in sorting books and other materials for re-sale, repurposing, or recycling. Duties include unloading heavy boxes, checking materials for damage, sorting materials by subject and value, and shelving. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 lbs. and to bend, stoop, and work with office equipment with or without reasonable accommodations, at times briefly outdoors. This position is best suited for customer service-ready, self-motivated, and detail oriented individuals accustomed to working in a fast-paced environment. Shifts are four hours long, with a minimum commitment of six months requested.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Chess Club, facilitator
We need chess lovers who want to help facilitate our Chess Clubs! Set up, take down, explanation of rules, match partners, game monitoring, and all things chess.
Current needs:
Central Library | 710 W. Cesar Chavez St.
- Sundays - 12:45 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- First and third Saturdays of the month - 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Board With Books, curator/assistant
Do you love playing board games? We need a volunteer to both curate our board game collection and assist with running our monthly Board With Books program. We have a wide range of modern and traditional board games that we want our customers to be able to enjoy fully.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Tech Time, computer and technology assistance
These volunteers hold "office hours" for drop-in computer and technology assistance. This position offers support to our library customers with questions ranging from creating e-mail addresses, navigating a new phone, and general light troubleshooting.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Toddler and Preschool Storytime Assistant
This volunteer will help our Youth Librarian during Toddler and Preschool Storytime for children ages 18 months and up. Toddler and Preschool Storytime includes all sorts of fun activities to help kids develop reading skills, listening skills, and social skills.
Current needs:
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S. 5th St.
- Mondays, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
ESL Talk Time, the English language learning group
Talk Time is a program for English conversation practice with other English language learners and English speaking volunteers. Talk Time is not a formal English class, but rather a place for participants to fine-tune their English in a relaxed environment. Volunteers facilitate conversation to help and encourage participants to speak English in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Practiquemos Español, the Spanish language learning group
Volunteers plan and lead Spanish language conversational groups. Participants practice speaking Spanish in a safe, non-judgmental, and relaxed environment. This position requires a mastery of the Spanish language and a six month commitment. Native speakers preferred.
Current needs:
Pleasant Hill Branch | 211 E. William Cannon Dr.
- Now accepting applications!
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- Now accepting applications!
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S. 5th St.
- Now accepting applications for Thursdays, 6:00-7:30!
Austin History Center
Would you like to work with unique, one of a kind historical items? Do you have an interest in learning more about local history? Then look into volunteering at the Austin History Center! AHC is the local history division of the Austin Public Library system. AHC provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County. AHC collects and preserves information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions, and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to our history.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
Social Media Ambassador (virtual volunteering opportunity)
Support the Library by becoming a Social Media Ambassador. Help raise the awareness of APL on social media while raising our awareness of you--our best supporter! No minimum commitment or volunteer application required! Currently on hiatus but will be returning soon.
Don't see a volunteer position for you?
Please contact Volunteer Services Coordinator Paul Lopez at 512-974-7443 or APL.Volunteers@austintexas.gov and tell us what you want to do. We will see if this potential volunteer position supports the Austin Public Library commitment to our community
