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 taking tickets, providing directional assistance, and helping customers participate in events. 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 Adult Summer Reading Program and the Million Mile Month, among many others. Event locations vary, while shifts are between two and four hours. Are you interested in helping but can't make any of the listed dates below? Send in an application to be added to the team for future events.
Current needs:
- If you are interested, please submit an application!
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 - 9:00-11:00
- Wednesdays - 9:00-11:00
- Thursdays - 9:00-11:00
- Fridays - 9:00-11:00
Central Library Circulation
Volunteers arrange Central 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, practice customer service, and like to work independently. Shifts are two hours, with a minimum six month commitment required. Positions marked * are currently in the process of being filled.
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:
- If you are interested, please submit an application!
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.
Central Library Learning Materials Assistant
Austin Central Library is seeking creative, detail-oriented volunteers to create early literacy, storytime, and learning materials at the Central Library to be used by youth librarians all over the city; from flannel board stories to learning materials cut-outs.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Central Library Administrative Assistant
The Central Library is looking for volunteers to assist with administrative duties and projects. Volunteers must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, with experience doing simple design work in Adobe a plus. This position requires volunteers to lift materials/boxes up to 25 pounds and work with office equipment, with or without reasonable accommodations. Volunteer duties will include filling materials orders for other branches in the library system, organization, sign making, data entry, and some writing. This is still a customer service-ready position.
Current needs:
- No opportunities at this time
Branch Materials Circulation Assistant
Volunteers will be customer service-ready, arrange library materials onto sorting carts in alphabetic and numeric order, then shelve 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 two hours with a minimum three month commitment required. Positions marked * are currently in the process of being filled.
Current needs:
Cepeda | 651 N. Pleasant Valley Road
- Now accepting applications!
Hampton at Oak Hill | 5125 Convict Hill Road
- Tuesdays - 11:00-1:00 or 1:00-3:00
- Saturdays - 12:00-2:00
Menchaca Road Branch | 5500 Menchaca Road
- Mondays - 10:00-12:00 or 11:00-1:00
North Village | 2505 Steck Ave.
- Now accepting applications!
Old Quarry Branch | 7051 Village Center Drive
- Now accepting applications!
Spicewood Springs Road Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Road
- Now accepting applications!
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S 5th Street
- Mondays - 8:00-10:00 (1), 12:00-2:00 (1)
- Tuesdays - anytime
- Thursday - 8:00-10:00 (1), 4:00-6:00 (1), 6:00-8:00 (1)
Windsor Park Branch | 5833 Westminster Drive
-
Now accepting applications!
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Drive
- Now accepting applications for Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays!
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 stretch and to work with office equipment with or without reasonable accommodations, sometimes in extreme temperatures. This position is best suited for customer service-ready, self-motivated, fast-paced, and detail-oriented individuals. Previous experience working in retail and warehouse/stocking skills is helpful. Shifts are two to four hours with a minimum six month commitment required.
Current needs:
- Friday - 2:00-6:00
- Saturday - 12:00-4:00
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:
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- 1st & 3rd Saturdays - 12:30-2:30 (1)
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:
Pleasant Hill Branch | 211 E. William Cannon Dr.
- Mondays 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Spicewood Springs Branch | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
- Please submit an application if you're interested!
Music and Movement Storytime Assistant
This volunteer will help a Youth Librarian during the very active Music and Movement Storytime for children ages 3-5. The program focuses on the Sing and Play recommendations for early literacy which helps develop gross motor skills, listening skills, and social skills, while introducing new vocabulary.
Current needs:
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill | 5125 Convict Hill Rd
- No opportunities available 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 Tuesday mornings!
ASL Talk Time, the American Sign Language learning group
American Sign Language Talk Time is a program for ASL conversation practice with other ASL learners and signing volunteers. ASL Talk Time is not a formal class, but rather a place for participants to fine-tune their ASL. Volunteers facilitate conversation to help and encourage participants to sign in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. An ideal volunteer would be a native signer prepared to help others with their ASL.
Current needs:
Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez St
- No opportunities at this time
Howson Branch | 2500 Exposition Blvd
- No opportunities at this time
Ruiz Branch | 1600 Grove Blvd
- No opportunities at this time
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:
Hampton at Oak Hill Branch | 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
- Now accepting applications
Terrazas Branch | 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St.
- Now accepting applications
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:
Hampton at Oak Hill | 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
- Now accepting applications
Learning Materials Assistant
Assistance is needed with preparing learning materials for youth programs.
Current needs:
St. John Branch | 7500 Blessing Ave
- No opportunities at this time
Youth Program Assistant
The Youth Program Assistant will help with school age kids and tweens who like to hang out, play computer and card games, learn, and create. An ideal candidate would feel confident with technology and could provide minor computer assistance to kids playing Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft, as well as enjoy playing computer or videogames when the opportunity arises.
Current needs:
Milwood Branch | 12500 Amherst Dr
- 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! The Austin History Center 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! 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 once in person volunteering resumes. 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.
