News
Three Austin-area families can look forward to a more bountiful Christmas this year. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) will host its annual fundraiser for local families in need on Wednesday, December 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (The sale was originally scheduled for Friday, December 6, but due to inclement weather, it has been postponed to Wednesday.)
Family historians, scholars, students and others interested in what is behind the ornate brass doors of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building just east of the Capitol will soon have more opportunities for discovery.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) will join the nation in observing the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination with a special exhibit that revisits the unforgettable events in Dallas, November 22-24, 1963.
Revisit the unforgettable events in Dallas, November 1963, on the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the murders of presumed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and police officer J.D. Tippit. Guest speaker John Slate, Dallas City Archivist, will present an illustrated lecture on the history and contents of the John F. Kennedy Collection, comprised of records from the Dallas Police Department, in the Dallas Municipal Archives.
On September 30 the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) was notified by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) of its decision to deny Texas’ request for a waiver from a state funding requirement prescribed by the federal government. The waiver would allow TSLAC to continue to receive its full allotment of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding, which the agency uses for programs to enhance library services across Texas. TSLAC will appeal the decision.
In response to the Governor's letter of September 26, 2013, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides the requested operational plan in the event of a shutdown of the federal government. (Copies of both documents are attached to this webpage.)
The agency will continue to perform its duties to serve the citizens of Texas. We plan to maintain operations and ensure continuation of essential functions and services to Texans. Our funding priorities are for those services most critical to the health, welfare, and safety of Texans.
Governor Rick Perry has reappointed Michael Cooper Waters of Dallas and Wm. Scott McAfee of Driftwood to the seven-member Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Mr. Waters continues as chair of the commission, a position he assumed March 2012. Both Mr. Waters and Mr. McAfee have served since 2008, and their new terms expire September 2019.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) invites the public to register for its upcoming Genealogy After Dark program, Friday, October 18, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Patrons of TSLAC’s Talking Book Program (TBP), a free library service for Texans of all ages unable to read standard print material, can now enjoy their talking books on the go.
Last month the seven-member Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) selected Mark Smith for the position of Director and Librarian, the agency’s chief executive also known as the Texas State Librarian. Though Mr. Smith’s tenure begins November 1, we reached out to him recently with 10 questions that address his background, perspective, priorities, and even his knowledge of Texas history. We look forward to getting to know more about Mr.