Do you want to run fun events for the public? Do you love the Library and want to help the public participate in programs? The library is looking to grow a team of volunteers to facilitate public programs. Special event volunteers provide ongoing assistance to APL with one-time events. Volunteers are not required to meet a monthly time commitment, but will assist with special events on an as needed basis. Volunteers will help with public events such as the Adult Summer Reading Program, Million Mile Month, and other one-time programs. Event locations vary, shifts are between two and four hours. Interested in helping, but can't make any of the listed dates? Send in an application to be added to the team for future events

Current needs:

Experience the ultimate podcast evening - participate in a live podcast recording of Adult Story Hour, hear a panel of local podcasters, experiment with podcasting recording equipment, create a podcast album cover and sign up to get a professional headshot for your webpage. Volunteers will assist with making "album art", help attendees create portraits, and run the snack station. 

• Friday August 24th 5pm-9pm | Manchaca Road Branch Library

If you like salsa, merengue, and cumbia music you can enjoy it while helping at Pachanga, an Adult Summer Reading Program event highlighting the Latin music collection at the Austin Public Library. 2 volunteers needed to hand out refreshments during the event.

• Friday August 31st 5:30-8:30pm | Central Library

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? Help us showcase our beautiful, new library. We are looking to build a team of volunteers to greet and provide tours to the public. Help us provide access to information in our world class facility. Interested volunteers will provide tours to the public upon request, as well as leading private planned tours. Volunteer opportunities are flexible, opportunities are available for a weekly timeslot or arranged as needed. Volunteers will receive special training for this role. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information.

Want to make a difference in the busiest section of the new library? Do you like kids and can help them find great books to read? Join our Children's Greeter Team! The Children's Greeter Team welcomes the hundreds of families that come in on weekends to the Children's Room, helps customers find books, answers basic library questions, and helps keep the Children's Room tidy. This is also a great job for buddies so grab a friend and join us!

Current needs:

• Saturdays 2-4pm | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
• Saturdays 4-6pm | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
• Sundays 12-2pm | | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
• Sundays 2-4pm | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
• Sundays 4-6pm | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

 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:

Old Quarry Branch | 7051 Village Center Dr

• Tuesdays 6pm-8pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
• Wednesdays 6pm-8pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Little Walnut Branch | 835 W Rundberg Ln

• Saturdays 10am-12pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez

Help us corral the 61,000+ books in the Children's Room. If you love details and spreadsheets and the joy of a beautifully displayed array of books then this job is for you. Invite a friend and be our first bonafide Children's Book Wrangler!

• Mondays 7pm-9pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

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 materials. Some volunteers also assist customers with check out and donations. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 lbs. 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 in retail and warehouse/stocking skills is helpful. Shifts are 4 hours with a minimum 6 month commitment required. Positions marked * are currently in the process of being filled.

Current needs:

• Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 4 hour shift*
• Thursdays 3pm-7pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 4 hour shift*

Volunteers develop curriculum and lead participants in various Library programs.

Connected Youth Assistant

The Austin Public Library is looking for Connect Youth (CY) Volunteers. Volunteers will proctor the Connected Youth Center and assist with CY programs and activities with youth ages 10-18 years old. Volunteers help our youth customers as they learn to work with computers, game equipment, and new technologies.Volunteers should enjoy working directly with predominately ages 10-15 years old in an active and energy filled environment. Knowledge of computers and other electronic media is required. Volunteers should be 18 years or older and bilingual (Spanish) is a plus! Volunteers will be a role model to youth in their communities, as well as help future generations gain the digital learning skills they need in order to be successful later in life.

Current needs:

Carver Branch Library | 1161 Angelina St

• Monday 2:45-4pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour 15 minute shift
• Tuesday 2:45-4pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour 15 minute shift
• Thursday 2:45-4pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour 15 minute shift

Storytime Assistant

We are looking for Two Storytime Assistants! At the Carver Branch, the volunteer will help our Youth Librarian during the very active Music and Movement program for children ages 3-5. The program focuses on the Sing and Play recommendations for early literacy which helps develops gross motor skills, listening skills, and social skills, while introducing new vocabulary. At the Central Library, the volunteer will assist with All Ages Storytime, this is a very popular and busy program. Both volunteers will help prepare the room, assist in handing out materials, participate in the program by dancing and shaking along, and help clean up after the storytime has ended. This position requires volunteers to move items up to 25lbs, be friendly and energetic, and to bend, stoop, and stretch with or without reasonable accommodations.Volunteers should enjoy working with children and families. 

Current needs:

Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St

• Fridays 9:15-11:15am | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Carver Branch Library | 1161 Angelina St

• Thursdays 9:45am-11:15am | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 1 and a half hour shift

Talk Time

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 non-threatening environment.

Current needs:

Howson Branch | 2500 Exposition Blvd

• Saturdays 10am-12pm | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Conversation Cafe Facilitator

Four Converasation Cafe facilitators are needed to lead prgramming at various branch locations. Conversation Cafés are open, hosted conversations anywhere people gather to make sense of our world. Hosting and leading a Conversation Café builds community and encourages participants to share ideas, and to listen to others’ perspectives, broadening everyone’s understanding of often complex issues that affect everyone. The Conversation Café is held once a month and typically lasts about an hour and a half. Coming up with discussion topics, sending out email reminders with the topic, and setting up the room will take an additional hour. Preferred qualifications include experience in leading discussions and in community outreach; an understanding of issues that affect communities; and the ability to respectfully manage conversations in a way that allows all participants equal opportunity to speak. Dates and times are flexible. * indicates a position which is in the process of being filled.

Current needs

Ruiz Branch Library | 1600 Grove Blvd

• 1 volunteer needed for a monthly program, dates and times flexible

Southeast Branch Library | 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd

• 1 bilingual volunteer needed for a monthly program, dates and times flexible

Spicewood Springs Branch Library | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd*

• 1 volunteer needed for a monthly program, dates and times flexible

Carver Branch Library | 1161 Angelina St*

• 1 volunteer needed for a monthly program, dates and times flexible

Virtual Reality Technology Assistant

Volunteers are needed to guide the public through using VR technology in the Central Library Tech Petting Zoo. This position is customer service oriented and requires comfort with emerging technology. Training will be provided, hours are flexible.

Current needs:

Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St

• 3 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Technology Assistant

Volunteers will share their computer skills with adults in need of assistance.  Key responsbilities are: supervise computer area; assist  customers with computer related-questions; assist library staff in shelving materials when the compter area is not busy. Knowledge of computers and other electronic media is required. Volunteers should be 18 years or older and bilingual (Spanish) is a plus!

Current needs:

Pleasant Hill | 211 E William Cannon Drive

• Weekdays 10-12 | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly shift

Spanish Family Movie Night Program Assistant

One volunteer is needed to help select movies for, and facilitate running, a monthly family movie night for Spanish speakers. The schedule for this opportunity is extremely flexible. The volunteer must be bilingual, familiarity with family oriented movies is a plus.

Current needs:

Carver Branch | 1161 Angelina St

• 1 volunteer needed, times and dates flexible

The Austin History Center is the local history division of the Austin Public Library. The History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County. We collect and preserve information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions, and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to our history.

Current needs:

Processing Volunteer

Processing volunteers will arrange and describe archives and manuscripts collections to promote access. Volunteers can expect to work with text materials, photographs, and/or audiovisual material. Required qualifications include experience working with archival resources, experience processing archival resources including familiarity with DACS and EAD (Archival Enterprise I or similar coursework), proficiency with technology, and experience with Microsoft Access.

• Anytime during open hours Tuesday – Friday 10am-6pm, weekends may be possible after 6 months | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift

Processing Volunteer for Latinx archival collection

Processing volunteer will re-arrange and describe the PODER Records (People Organized in the Defense of Earth and her Resources) to promote access. Volunteer can expect to work with approximately 40 linear feet of text materials, photographs, and audiovisual material. Required qualifications include experience working with archival resources, experience processing archival resources including familiarity with DACS and EAD (Archival Enterprise I or similar coursework), proficiency with technology, experience with Microsoft Access, and a genuine interest in Latinx history and activism in Austin. This project will require a 1 year commitment.

• Anytime during open hours Tuesday – Friday 10am-6pm, weekends may be possible after 6 months