Volunteer Services strives to match your skills and interests with Library needs. We also strive to have a diverse volunteer program that reflects our community. Volunteer positions are open to all individuals who meet the qualifications (with or without reasonable accommodation) for each position regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or HIV status.
We accept adult volunteer applications for currently available volunteer opportunities only.
Find out how to apply for a volunteer opportunity HERE.
Opportunities as of 7/18/2017
Administration: Volunteers complete administrative duties in various Library division. Volunteers must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) 2010 or later. This position requires volunteers to lift materials/boxes up to 25lbs and work with office equipment with or without reasonable accommodations. The position is best suited for those who love to organize and like to work independently. Shifts are 4 hours. Minimum 3 month commitment (24 hours) required. No opportunities at this time.
Archives: Volunteers organize, describe, preserve and promote local history materials. Duties involve archival arrangement and description, research, cataloging, filing, preservation work ranging from photocopying to more advanced treatments, data entry and use of audio/video programs and equipment. Work is best suited for detail-oriented individuals. Most positions require previous archives experience or coursework. Shifts vary in length and are once per week. Minimum 3 month commitment (24 hours) required unless otherwise noted. The Austin History Center is not open to the public on Mondays. No opportunities at this time.
Circulation: Volunteers arrange Library materials onto sorting carts in alphabetic and numeric order before shelving the materials in the stacks. Volunteers may also dust shelves, shelf read and help keep Library areas tidy. 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 2 hours. Minimum 3 month commitment required.
Current needs:
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 South 5th Street
- Tuesday afternoon (12pm-4pm) | 2 volunteers
- Wednesday morning (10am-1pm) | 1 volunteer
- Friday afternoon (12pm-6pm) | 2 volunteers
Milwood Branch | 12500 Amherst Drive
- Tuesday morning (10am-12pm) | 2 volunteers
- Friday afternoon (11am-4pm) | 2 volunteers
- Saturday afternoon (11am-4pm) | 2 volunteers
Community Programs: Volunteers develop curriculum and lead participants in various Library programs.
Saturday Crafts Program | Milwood Branch | 12500 Amherst Drive
The Austin Public Library needs your crafting skills! The Milwood branch is looking for two volunteers to assist Saturday Crafts program participants in completeing different projects. Volunteers should have basic sewing and crafting skills. Some examples of craft projects are decorating flower pots, repurposing t-shirts, and making pinatas. Program Dates: 4th Saturday of every month 11am-12pm. Volunteer Shifts: 10:30am-12:30pm.
Doodle Happy Hour Program | Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Drive
Doodle Happy Hour program participants de-stress with coloring, doodling, and fun drawing exercises. The Yarborough Branch is looking for volunteers to facilitate the program. Volunteers are not required to have artistic skills, but have a passion for the fine arts specifically in drawing and cartooning. Volunteer duties include setting up the program, guiding participants in casual drawing exercises, and cleaning up the program. Program Dates: 4th Monday of every month 5pm-7pm. Volunteer Shifts: 4:30pm-7:30pm.
Home School Support Group | Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Drive
The Homeschool Support Group program meets to discuss relevant topics in the homeschooling community.Volunteers will recruit homeschooling parents online, research information/topics relevant to homeschooling, and facilitate the meeting discussion. Volunteers with experience in education or homeschooling preferred are preferred. Program Dates: 2nd Wednesday of every month 6:30-8:30pm. Volunteer Shifts: Hours dedicated towards preparation and researching are flexible, but volunteers must attend the program every month.
The Austin Public Library also needs a Homeschool Support Group assistant volunteer to help promote the program. This volunteers will assist in creating promotional/educational materials list for homeschool parents, setting up the program space, helping facilitate the program, and tearing down the program. Volunteers with computer skills and familiarity with homeschooling preferred. Program Dates: 2nd Wednesday of every month 6:30-8:30pm. Volunteer Shifts: Hours dedicated towards preparation and researching are flexible, but volunteers must attend the program every month.
Board with Books | Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Drive
Board with Books participants gather at the library to play both modern and traditional board games with other members in the community. The Yarborough Branch is looking for volunteers who have a passion for board games, familiarity with traditional board games (e.g. Scrabble) and modern board games (e.g. Settlers of Catan) as well as an interest in teaching others how to play. Volunteer duties include: setting up the program, teaching/demonstrating board games, and cleaning up the program. Program Dates: 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:30pm. Volunteer Shifts: 6pm-9pm.
Reading Together | Southeast Branch | 5803 Nuckols Crossing Road
The Austin Public Library needs you to share your love of reading with a youth. The Southeast Branch is looking for volunteers to pair with a student who already knows how to read but needs practice. The 45 minute shift will consist of 30 minutes of reading to, reading with, or listening to the youth read then 15 minutes of a literacy game. This program is designed to read in English. However, many students will be bilingual in Spanish. Volunteers should enjoy working with school age children, commit to a weekly shift for the 12 week program, be at least 18 years old, and complete a criminal background investigation prior to volunteering. Bilingual in Spanish is helpful! Program Dates: Tuesday evenings from September 19th - December 19th, with a required orientation on September 18th. Volunteer Shifts: 4pm-4:50pm; 5pm-5:30pm; 6pm-6:50pm *volunteers may sign up for more than one shift.
Recycled Reads | 5335 Burnet Road: Volunteers assist staff in sorting books and materials for recycling, repurposing, or re-sale. Duties involve unloading boxes, checking for damage, sorting books by subject and value and shelving books and materials. Some volunteers also assist customers with check-out and donations. This position requires volunteers to push cart up to 75 pounds and to bend, stoop and stretch and to work with office equipment with or without reasonable accommodations. Work is best suited for detail-oriented individuals. Previous experience working working in retail and warehouse/stocking skills helpful. Shifts are 4 hours. Minimum 6 month commitment required.
- 4 hour shift available on Thursday afternoons (1-5p). 1 volunteer needed.
Social Media Ambassador: 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! Sign up HERE. No minimum commitment or volunteer application required!
Special Events (One Time Opportunities): Contact Volunteer Services for full details and to pre-register for an event. Applications are not required for these events. We do not work with community service restitution hours for these events. Please let us know if you are under 18 years of age and wish to volunteer for a special event.
Corporate Group Volunteers| Recycled Reads | 5335 Burnet Road
- Wednesdays from 9am-12pm for groups 5-20 people
Youth Services: Volunteers help our Teen and Youth Librarians with Library programs. Volunteers could be helping with program preparation (lots of craft cut outs!), taking tickets at the door, assisting youth in activities, creating book displays, shelving youth materials and helping keep the youth area tidy, and setting up/taking down at programs or even leading a program! This position does not include reading to children. Work is best suited for detail oriented individuals who enjoy working with kids of all ages. This position will include standing and bending for the duration of program; moving items up to 25ibs, and using program equipment with our without reasonable accommodation. Most positions require a weekly commitment for a minimum of three months. No opportunities at this time.
Youth Volunteer Program: Our youth volunteer program is designed for youth ages 13-17. We have three program seasons-Fall, Spring and Summer-with applications only accepted three times per year.
Current needs:
- Spring 2017. Deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications.
- Summer 2017. Deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications.
- Fall 2017. We are on hiatus and will not be accepting youth volunteer applications in Fall 2017.
Don't see a volunteer position for you? Contact Volunteer Services 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.
Support the Library by volunteering for the Austin History Center Association! They are looking for Oral History, Administrative, and Community Program volunteers. This is NOT an Austin Public Library volunteer opportunity. Check out their website for full details and to complete AHCA's volunteer application process.
Support literacy by volunteering for the VICTORY tutoring program! They are looking for volunteers to provide 1:1 tutoring in grades 1-12 in a variety of academic subjects. This is NOT an Austin Public Library volunteer opportunity, however, many VICTORY locations are located in APL branches. Check out their website for full details and to complete VICTORY's volunteer application process.
