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:
- Mondays - 9:00-11:00 (2 spots), 10:00-12:00 (2 spots)
- Tuesdays - 9:00-11:00 (2 spots), 10:00-12:00 (2 spots)
- Wednesdays - 9:00-11:00 (2 spots), 10:00-12:00 (2 spots)
- Thursdays - 9:00-11:00 (2 spots), 10:00-12:00 (2 spots)
- Fridays - 9:00-11:00 (2 spots), 10:00-12:00 (2 spots)
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:
- Tuesdays - 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
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 Zaragoza Warehouse need some highly motivated volunteers to help get our library materials ready to be distributed to branches. Volunteer duties include opening 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:
- No opportunities at this time
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:
Menchaca Road Branch | 5500 Menchaca Rd.
- Now accepting applications for Tuesday, 10:00-12:00 or 11:00-1:00, Friday mornings, and Saturdays 11:00-1:00 or 12:00-2:00!
Milwood Branch | 12500 Amherst Dr.
- Now accepting applications for Monday through Saturday mornings or afternoons!
North Village Branch | 2505 Steck Ave.
- Now accepting applications!
Old Quarry Branch | 7051 Village Center Dr.
- Now accepting applications!
Windsor Park Branch | 5833 Westminster Dr.
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Now accepting applications!
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Now accepting applications for Monday mornings, Tuesday evenings, Wednesday mornings, Thursday evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays!
Social Media Assistant (hybrid in-person/virtual)
Are you a social media maven? Fluent in memes? APL is looking for a volunteer to help the marketing department revitalize our social media channels. Experience with Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook is preferred. If you know how to graphic design or edit video, even better. We want your ideas and enthusiasm! The in-person portion of the position would be at the Central Library.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time.
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.
- No opportunities at this time.
Program Assistant
We need motivated and flexible volunteers to help run our programming at various branches.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Now accepting applications for our Docs and Talks Film Program that meets monthly on Thursdays!
Recycled Reads Bookstore Assistant | 5335 Burnet Road
Recycled Reads is Austin Public Library's retail bookstore where all proceeds benefit APL. Recycled Reads volunteers assist Recycled Reads staff in sorting books and materials for recycling, repurposing, or re-sale. Duties involve unloading heavy boxes, checking books for damage, and sorting books by subject and value. This position requires volunteers to push carts up to 75 pounds and to bend, stoop, and to work with office equipment with or without reasonable accommodations, at times briefly outdoors. This position is best suited for customer service-ready, self-motivated, fast-paced, and detail-oriented individuals. Shifts are four hours with a minimum six month commitment requested.
Current needs:
- Wednesdays - 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Thursdays - 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
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:
Willie Mae Kirk Branch | 3101 Oak Springs Dr.
- Now accepting applications!
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- 1st & 3rd Saturdays - 12:30-2:30
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:
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd
- Now accepting applications for Wednesday mornings!
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S 5th St
- Now accepting applications for Monday mornings or afternoons!
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr.
- Now accepting applications for Tuesday mornings!
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!
Youth Program Assistant
Our Youth Program Assistants help with setting up youth programs, cleaning up after programs, helping facilitate activities during events, prepping learning materials, circulation duties, and other related tasks.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr
- Now accepting applications for Friday mornings!
Learning Materials Assistant
Assistance is needed with preparing learning materials for youth programs.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
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.
Alternative archiving opportunity:
- AHC does not currently have volunteer need but our Yarborough Branch (2200 Hancock Dr.) does need an assistant to help with inventorying and processing manuscript materials related to their namesake Senator Ralph Yarborough and the Yarborough Branch archives. This position is ideally for a volunteer looking to learn for a future career in archiving. Please submit an application if you're interested!
Digital Navigator
Would you like to become a Volunteer Digital Navigator? As a Digital Navigator, you will be a frontline trusted tech guide for the community. We are looking for tech savvy volunteers that are excited to show our community members basic computer skills like accessing the internet, creating spreadsheets, or creating a slideshow presentation.
Current needs:
- Now accepting applications!
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! Sign up HERE. No minimum commitment or volunteer application required!
APL does not offer one-time group volunteer opportunities. The following organizations offer volunteer opportunities for groups during the pandemic:
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.
Support APL by volunteering for the Austin History Center Association! They are looking for volunteers to join several different committees. This is NOT an Austin Public Library volunteer opportunity as AHCA is a local nonprofit that is not part of the APL system. Check out their website for full details and to complete AHCA's volunteer application process.
