Overview
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is a state agency that preserves official state papers of historical value, assists local governments in doing the same, and runs a variety of programs that assist local libraries and school libraries.
Texas has had an official library and archives since the time of the Republic, but the agency in its current form was established in 1909.
Functions
Today TSLAC runs four main programs:
- Archives: preserving documents of historical value;
- TexShare: a resource-sharing consortium for Texas public libraries;
- Records Management: regulating the records management of local governments and other state agencies;
- Talking Book Program: free audio books for the visually impaired.
Many of the state’s archives are only in paper form, but some archival content is available online through the Texas Digital Archive.
Collections of the Texas State Archives
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission preserves historical and government records essential for studying Texas history, law, and culture.
- State Archives – Official records from Texas’ Spanish, Mexican, and statehood periods, including gubernatorial papers and Supreme Court case files.
- Texas Library Collection – Books and reports on Texas history and law, including rare works like Laws of the Republic of Texas (1838).
- Manuscripts & Personal Papers – Letters, diaries, and business records, such as the papers of Stephen F. Austin.
- Maps & Newspapers – Historic maps like the 1830 Austin Colony survey and newspapers dating back to the 1800s.
- Genealogy Resources – Census records, military service files, and family histories for tracing Texas ancestry.
Many materials are accessible in-person or via TSLAC’s digital archives, making it a key resource for researchers and historians.
Structure
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is the name of both the agency itself and its governing body. The governing body consists of seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The governor also designates a chair. Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms.
Duties of the commission include appointing a Director and Librarian, who serves as the chief executive of TSLAC, and an Assistant State Librarian. The commission also reviews and approves the library’s strategic plans, appropriations requests, and operating budgets.
The commission generally meets five times per year. It submits a report to the governor every two years about the library operations, conditions, and activities.
TSLAC has five divisions: Archives & Information Services; Library Development & Networking; the Talking Book program; Information Technology Services; and State & Local Records Management.
The agency is headquartered in the Lorenzo de Zavala Building, which adjoins the Texas Capitol grounds.
Oversight Role
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission plays a key role in ensuring that other state agencies and local governments maintain their records in compliance with state laws.
The agency keeps a database of the records management officer of each local government in Texas. Local governments are required by law to notify the agency when this person changes.
TSLAC also maintains model records retention schedules for local governments to follow. Local governments either keep or destroy records based on such schedules. They are not allowed to destroy records that aren’t on such a schedule without first notifying TSLAC.
State agencies follow similar procedures. Each state agency has a records management officer who coordinates with TSLAC’s records and archives staff.
