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 10/12/2018
Usher Program
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. 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. 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.
New Central Library Docent Program
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.
Children's Room Greeter
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
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.Positions marked * are currently in the process of being filled.
Current needs:
Yarborough Branch | 2200 Hancock Dr
- Sunday 2-4pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
University Hills Branch | 4721 Loyola Ln
- Thursday 1-3pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
Twin Oaks Branch | 1800 S 5th St
- Tuesday 9-11am | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
- Wednesdays 6-8pm | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
Manchaca Road Branch | 5500 Manchaca Rd
- Fridays during open hours | 2 volunteers needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
- Sundays during open hours | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift
Administrative
This volunteer will assist the Sight and Sound Curator in conducting periodicals based research on music and movies. Ideal candidates would be detail oriented, interested in music and movies, like to read and scan newspapers and magazines, and be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Current needs:
Central Library | 710 W Cesar Chavez
- 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 2 hour shift during business hours
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 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:
- Sundays | 1 volunteer needed for a weekly 4 hour shift
Community Programs
Volunteers develop curriculum and lead participants in various Library programs.
Talk Time
Talk Time is a program for English conversation practive 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.
Spicewood Springs Branch Library | 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd
- Saturday 10-12pm | 1 volunteer needed for a monthly 2 hour shift
Practiquemos Español
The Milwood branch is looking for 2 fluent Spanish speakers to help lead a language practice program. Practiquemos Español is not a language class, rather it is a place for participants to fine-tune their Spanish speaking skills in a relaxed environment.
Current needs:
Milwood Branch Library | 12500 Amherst Dr
- Thursday 2:30pm-4:30pm | 2 volunteers needed for a monthly 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
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
Austin History Center
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:
Collections Volunteer
Collections volunteers will work with specific parts of these collections to file and rehouse the material. Volunteers can expect to work with original documents such as periodicals, vertical files, photographs, audiovisual material, architectural files, archives and manuscripts, and maps.Primary duties include data entry for updates to databases, filing and rehousing of materials, and preservation duties. Required qualifications include experience with archival resources, proficiency with computers/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
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
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!
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.
