The Archives and Information Services Division includes the Texas
State Archives, the State Library's Reference/Documents Collection,
the Genealogy Collection, Cataloging department, and Records and Information Management. This division
is responsible for acquiring, evaluating, organizing, and preserving
permanently valuable government records in addition to providing
expert reference services to the public from the following four
collections:
Texas State Archives
The Texas State Archives preserves and documents the
heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, collecting, and
making available for research the permanently valuable official
records of Texas government, as well as other significant historical
resources. Maintaining the official history of Texas government,
the State Archives includes archival government records dating
back to the 18th century, as well as newspapers, journals, books,
manuscripts, photographs, historical maps, and other historical
resources.
Reference/Documents Collection
The Reference and Documents Collection offers expert reference
services to state government and to the public. The collection
also houses the most complete library of state and federal government
publications in Texas, including the full text of federal and
Texas state laws and statistical data from all federal censuses.
Resources range from traditional print material to databases and
full public access to the Internet.
Ask a Reference Question by e-mail - reference.desk@tsl.state.tx.us
telephone - 512-463-5455
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Genealogy Collection
The Genealogy Collection houses materials of interest to patrons
engaged in family history research. Onsite resources include census
records; historic voter registration and tax rolls; and indexes
to births, deaths, marriages, and divorces (though not the certificates
themselves).
Cataloging
Cataloging and Materials Processing is responsible for creating
bibliographic records for materials added to the collections of
the Texas State Library and for preparing materials for use in
the collections. The cataloging standards are those established
in the Anglo American Cataloging Rules, Second Edition (Revised)
and the Bibliographic Standards for USMARC Formats. The Texas
State Library uses Library of Congress subject headings, and Dewey,
Texas documents and federal documents classification schemes.
telephone - 512-463-7102
Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center
The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center is located
200 miles east of Austin and serves as both a research facility
and a museum. In addition to housing the local government records
of the Atascosito region of Texas, the Center is home to several
historic buildings, as well as manuscripts, books, maps, photographs,
oral history tapes, and newspapers. New exhibits are displayed
regularly.
Records and Information Management
The business records of our agency are critical to the operation
of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. They serve
as the organization's memory, documenting past and current activities,
and are the basis for future actions. These records serve as informational
resources that are essential to the operations of the agency and
its services to the people of the state. The Records and Information
Management program applies systematic and scientific controls
to the recorded information required in the operation of our business.
Those efforts help ensure that necessary information is accessible
and usable, and that the agency's records are managed in a timely,
accurate, and cost-effective manner. For information regarding
the agency's business records you may call (512) 463-5435.
telephone - 512-421-7200
(for questions relating to all other state and local government
records)
