Texana/Genealogy Department

The Texana Resource Center and the entire 6th floor of Central Library is undergoing a substantial renovation and will be closed to the public for the duration of the project.

Beginning Wednesday, July 5, Texana/Genealogy services will be available on the first floor of Central Library across from the main information desk during regular library business hours. Texana services are not available on Mondays.

The Texana/Genealogy Department is a Reference Only Collection. The materials are not allowed to leave the department, however, copies of some of the books are also in the circulating collection and available for check out.  

Since 1995, the collection has been located on the sixth floor of the Central Library at 600 Soledad Street downtown.  The department occupies approximately 10,000 square feet.

Within the Department are: 

• approximately 60,000 microforms 
• 75,000 books
• 110 drawers of archival files
• 11 map cabinets
• 300 cubic feet of archival collections.

This guide is designed to introduce you to books, databases, web sites, and information on microfilm held by the Texana/Genealogy Department.   

While almost all Texana and genealogy books are listed in the online catalog, items in the specials collections, maps, clipping files, archive collections, and those on microfilm and microfiche do not appear in the catalog. 

Books in the Texana Collection follow the Dewey system. Books on individual counties are given a specific county number, and then filed by author, title entry, etc. 

Books in the Genealogy Collection also follow the Dewey system. Books about individual states are file according to the appropriate state number and then filed by individual county in possible. Those items with material on several counties or general topics are filed by author or title entry. Patrons should use the catalog because some materials on a county of interest may be filed in one of these more general titles. 

Books on specific families are filed in 929.2, and then by the first surname that appears on the title page. The catalog will contain all surnames on the title page. Other surnames listed in the text or index will not be in the catalog. Patrons should check the catalog under “_____ family” or “_____ genealogy” 

The Texana/Genealogy Department is a Reference Only Collection. The materials are not allowed to leave the department, however, copies of some of the books are also in the circulating collection and available for check out.