Archives and Reference

TSLAC preserves and documents the shared heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, collecting, and making available the official archival records of Texas government. From historical treasures such asthe first Texas Constitution to government digital records, ARIS maintains and provides access to more than 200 million pages of archival documents and more than two million volumes of printed library materials.

Explore our research resources at www.tsl.texas.gov/arc.

Exhibits

We regularly exhibit treasures from the collections of the State Archives in our lobby gallery. We encourage you to visit to see these pieces of history for yourself. Of course, we understand that not everyone is able to stop by 1201 Brazos Street in Austin, so we’ve digitized most of what we display for you to view online. Please feel free to browse our current and previous exhibits at https://www.tsl.texas.gov/lobbyexhibits

Events and Outreach

We host open houses, exhibit events, author chats, research presentations, webinars, book clubs, podcasts, and more—all open to the public and free! Check out our calendar, follow us on social media, and be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter to find out about upcoming events.

Texas Center for the Book

The mission of the Texas Center for the Book is to celebrate the written word and literary heritage of Texas, while highlighting the importance of books, reading, literacy, and libraries. Established in 1987, the Center builds partnerships with library professionals, educators, authors, publishers, and booksellers who provide support to our shared mission of promoting a love of literature throughout the Lone Star State. Check out the Center’s programs for all ages on the website: www.tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.

Talking Book Program

The Talking Book Program provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. TBP is part of the National Library Service to the Blind and Print Disabled, a program administered by the Library of Congress. The TBP collection consists of more than 100,000 titles—including more than 2,000 Texas books and magazines recorded in our own in-house Volunteer Recording Studio. Learn more at www.texastalkingbooks.org.