Texas Government Code Chapter 552 (commonly referred to as the Public Information Act, PIA, or Open Records Act) gives you the right to access to government records. While government information is presumed to be available to the public, exceptions may apply to the disclosure of some information.
Read more about the Public Information Act.
You may find the information you are looking for on our website.
Please note: TSLAC provides access to our archival holdings and library collections as a normal course of business. Visit the Archives and Manuscripts webpage to search our collections or contact our Reference Desk for research assistance.
The PIA applies to information already in existence. The PIA does not require TSLAC to create new information, perform legal research, or answer general questions.
TSLAC cannot provide access to records held by other state agencies or governmental bodies. For records that are under the custody of other state agencies or governmental bodies, you should submit your request to that agency. If TSLAC is storing records for another agency, that agency is required to facilitate and respond to your request.
Members of the media should send general inquiries that are not formal PIA requests to: info@tsl.texas.gov.
TSLAC accepts two types of Public Information Act requests – one for records created or maintained by TSLAC in the transaction of official TSLAC business, and one for records of other entities that are maintained in the Texas State Archives.
To request Texas State Archives holdings, you must complete the Texas State Archives Material Request Form per Texas Government Code, Section 441.1935. Please refer to page 2 of the form for directions on how to submit your request. We recommend downloading and completing the form in Adobe Reader. If you wish to view items from multiple collections, please submit one form per collection. Feel free to contact ref@tsl.texas.gov with any questions.
To request TSLAC’s records, you must submit your request in writing using one of these options:
By email to the Public Information Officer:
openrecords@tsl.texas.gov
By mail to:
Public Information Officer
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
P.O. Box 12926
Austin, TX 78711
In person at:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
1201 Brazos Street
Austin, TX 78711
While you are not required to use any particular form to request information, you may wish to use this PIA Request Form (PDF) to request TSLAC’s records. You may submit the form to us using one of the three contact options above.
Please note that requests for information sent via fax are no longer be accepted.
A request sent by email or mail must be sent to the Public Information Officer at the addresses listed above or TSLAC is under no obligation to respond.
Here are a few examples of the types of information you will not be able to get with a PIA request, either because we do not have the information or the PIA does not apply to it:
