Last year, over 900 enthusiastic book-lovers volunteered their time and talent to make the Texas Book Festival a huge success. We are very grateful to all of our volunteers for your continued support. You can sign up online beginning August 1^st for the 2008 Festival on November 1^st and 2^nd.

HOW TO VOLUNTEER:

1. Read our Training & General information handbook (PDF).

2. Review volunteer job descriptions below and decide how you’d like to help.

3. Fill out our easy online application

Austin Museum of Art Events Author Escorts Author Transportation Barnes & Noble Book Sales Book Signing Capitol Building Events Entertainment Tent Exhibitor Hospitality Information Booth Lifestyle Tent Events Logistics / Parking Merchandise Tents Pre-festival support Sanctuary Events Sign Language Interpreters Signage Surprise Me! (Floaters) Volunteer Tent Children's Chapter Children's Book Signing Children's Demonstration and Activities Children's Entertainment Children's Reading

Austin Museum of Art Events Location: Austin Museum of Art (AMOA), 823 Congress Ave. (Helen Ginger, Chair) Volunteers will: Assist with crowd hospitality Maintain traffic flow in out of the main room and for book signings Assist speakers and panelists Make runs to the festival Capitol grounds if supplies or equipment is needed Assist with room set-up and breakdown Monitor crowds and noise so festival events do not interfere with regular museum activities Have fun! Please note: These events are located at the Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress Ave. Print description Author Escorts Location: Festival Grounds (Juanita Pichler & Melinda Eppler, Chair) Volunteers will: assist with author check-in and hospitality at the Festival escort the author(s) to their program/panel location escort the author(s) from the program/panel location to the author signing area and stay with the author(s) until the end of the assigned book-signing time serve as "gofer" for the author(s) as needed during book signing, for items such as Festival provided refreshments Print description Author Transportation Location: Driving required (Susan Rubino, Chair) Volunteers will: drive author(s) between the ABIA airport, hotel, and  the Capitol driving is required must use your own reliable transportation may also be asked to drive authors to special events must have appropriate Texas vehicle insurance and a cell phone A fantastic way to meet authors attending the Festival!   Author Transportation Volunteers have the best jobs at the Festival!  You have the unique opportunity to interact with your favorite authors as you drive them in your car, showing them Texas Hospitality. Print description Barnes & Noble Book Sales Location: Festival Grounds (Cathy Lane and Jo Virgil, Chair) Barnes & Noble Volunteers will: help maintain traffic flow in various Barnes & Noble book sale tents assist with inventory, boxing, and unpacking books some volunteers may be trained to handle monetary transactions Note: There are two Barnes & Noble book sales tents.  Volunteers will be assigned to one of the B&N tents. Print description Book Signing Location: Festival Grounds (Tana Petrich & Alan Miller, Chair) Expect to stand for long periods of time and to present a pleasant demeanor to people waiting in line for author signings. Volunteers will: greet visitors and authors prepare author signing areas help maintain traffic flow, establishing lines for author signings provide loss prevention at entrances and exits by counting number of books people bring into the book sales tent and in turn checking receipts and bags upon exiting the tent assist in the set-up of tent area, tables & chairs, hanging posters and signage Print description Capitol Building Events Location: Festival Grounds (Mary Christian, Chair) Enjoy the richness of programming in the Capitol while volunteering. Volunteers will: prepare rooms before and after each presentation count those in attendance monitor late entrances such as managing doors so they don't slam/make noise, exits and hall noise as needed generally help with crowd control as attendees enter and exit presentations assist visitors in finding their way around the Capitol and Capitol Extension direct traffic inside the Capitol A plum assignment --  it is INDOORS.  Plus you get to see those very  popular presentations held inside the Capitol - in the room you are assigned.   Print description Entertainment Tent Location: Festival Grounds (Roger Polson, Chair) Volunteers will: escort entertainers and assist them with loading and unloading equipment assist with crowd hospitality help clean the tent and straighten chairs between performances monitor the product table and assist with CD/media sales Best seat in the house! Great way to see musicians or other artists performing at the Festival. Print description Exhibitor Hospitality Location: Festival Grounds (Debra Saleny, Chair) Volunteers will: monitor food/drink supplies for Festival exhibitors & volunteers at the Hospitality tent help set up & maintain Hospitality area transport supplies from concessions to these exhibitor or volunteer areas   Print description Information Booth Location: Festival Grounds (Ellie Colllier & Molly Dahlstrom , Chair) Volunteers will: provide maps, directions, and information to Festival attendees assist with locating programs and activities answer festival-related questions welcome people to the festival, and present a positive, helpful attitude to festival-goers Volunteers will be assigned to work at either the information booth or may be asked to work as a Festival Guide Print description Lifestyle Tent Events Location: Festival Grounds (Pat Saunders, Chair) Volunteers will: Assist with crowd hospitality Maintain traffic flow in and out of the tent and for book signings Assist speakers and panelists Make runs to the festival Capitol grounds if supplies or equipment is needed Assist with set-up for presentations Print description Logistics / Parking Location: Festival Grounds (Jann Girard, Chair) Volunteers may be asked to help with any of the following tasks: transport people and/or supplies on the festival grounds assist with traffic control in parking areas other logistical duties, as assigned Print description Merchandise Tents Location: Festival Grounds (LaDonna Castanuela & Michelle Lingo, Chair) Volunteers will: assist with Texas Book Festival merchandise sales need to be able to stand, bend, reach, and do light lifting become familiar with the merchandise including sizes, size availability, material greet the public and list various merchandise and costs prepare and maintain the merchandise sales booths assist with inventory, boxing, unpacking and arranging merchandise for sale some volunteers will be specifically assigned to cash registers and these people will receive appropriate training and be expected to handle cash and credit card information responsibly Note: there are TWO merchandise tents (Adult & Children’s). Volunteers will be assigned to work at one of these two tents, both located on the Festival Grounds.  If you have a preference - please state that on the volunteer form. Print description Pre-festival support Location: TBF Office and Various Other Locations (Andrea Prestridge & Clay Smith, Chair) The TBF may need volunteers in the days or weeks BEFORE the Festival begins. Volunteers will: Provide general office, clerical support such as filing, prepare mailings, and data processing May also be asked to deliver gift bags (must have reliable transportation) Assistance is needed on a variety of dates PRIOR to the festival Please enter dates / times you are available to assist Pre Festival Support within the COMMENT BOX located on the volunteer form. Thank you. Print description Sanctuary Events Location: Festival Grounds - FUMC Sanctuary (Ann Teich, Chair) Events at the Sanctuary are scheduled only for Saturday. Volunteers will: Assist with room set up for panel presentations Greet attendees Other duties as assigned Please Note: The Sanctuary is part of the First United Methodist Church, located on festival grounds (corner of Lavaca and 12th St.). Print description Sign Language Interpreters Location: Festival Grounds Volunteers must be qualified sign language interpreters. Volunteers will: assist with short-term interpreting in Reading Tents or Entertainment areas, as requested Print description Signage Location: Festival Grounds (Karen Boatright, Chair) Volunteers will: assist in placing signs before Festival begins and picking up signs when Festival is over help in assessing where additional signage is needed Print description Surprise Me! (Floaters) Location: Festival Grounds Volunteers will: Be assigned to where needed the greatest.  Your assignment may include any of the above jobs, or ‘last minute’ new assignments. May also include “Floaters” (fill in where needed) Thank you for being so flexible!  We always need volunteers that are willing to be assigned 'where needed'. Print description Volunteer Tent Location: Festival Grounds (Leigh Kilman & Lola Cowling, Chair) Volunteers will: greet volunteers at the Volunteer Tent assist with checking in volunteers at the Volunteer Tent distribute volunteer T-shirts  direct volunteers to the location of their assignment gather evaluations about the volunteer experience may be asked to make assignments on demand – such as assigning “floaters”, as needed Really fun assignment. Get to meet and greet hundreds of excited volunteers.   Print description Children's Book Signing Location: Festival Grounds - Children's Tent (Vera Vera, Chair) Volunteers will: help maintain traffic flow in the children's book signing area greet visitors and authors prepare author signing areas assist with inventory, boxing, unpacking and arranging books other duties, as assigned Print description Children's Demonstration and Activities Location: Festival Grounds - Children's Tent (Elizabeth Murphy & Stephanie Shipman, Chair) Volunteers will: guide children of all ages (ranging from preschool through middle school) in making reading-related crafts, like bookmarks, story-character hats, personalized books, and cartoons direct children and parents in the area and answer questions keep the area neat assist with setup and teardown of demonstration materials, chairs, and signage greet parents and children, assist as needed Please note: Space at each activity is limited. All volunteers must sign up individually (not in groups), and may be assigned separate activities from adult sponsor or leader. Print description Children's Entertainment Location: Festival Grounds - Children's Tent (Jane Sheafer & Wendy Todd, Chair) Volunteers will: set up props and provide technical assistance for storytellers and entertainers dress up in story character costumes (costumes provided) direct children and parents in the area and answer questions help to quiet children before and during storytelling keep the area neat assist with crowd hospitality before and during storytelling Print description Children's Reading Location: Festival Grounds - Children's Tent (Ann Minner & DJ Harris, Chair) Volunteers will: assist with setup and teardown of table materials, chairs, and signage greet authors and Master of Ceremony at check-in table replenish stock of bottled water for authors assist the Master of Ceremony in quieting the crowd help in clearing the tent escort authors to other areas of the Festival monitor children in attendance Like kids? Need to fulfill an assignment for class? Lots of laughs and smiles here! See authors up close while you volunteer. Meet an author of a children's book that you love. Print description