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check in at the reading room, 3 people

Plan Your Visit

Reading Room

It is a quiet, supervised space where people can request and use archive materials that can not be checked out or taken home. Our Reading Room is open to all visitors who want to explore Austin's history.

  • Upstairs on the 2nd Floor of the Faulk building
  • If you need to access unappraised City records or photographic materials stored in our cold storage, we require two weeks' notice to ensure they are available when you visit.

To protect materials and ensure everyone has a productive visit, please review the following guidelines.

Check-In & Lockers

  • lockersThe Reading Room is open to the public during regular business hours;
    no appointment is needed.
  • Sign in at the front desk when you arrive.
  • Store all bags, backpacks, and personal belongings in the provided lockers with locks.
    • Exceptions: cameras, phones, and laptops (all camera and laptop cases must remain locked)
  • You may bring a pencil and up to five (5) loose sheets of your own notes. 
  • We provide pencils and note paper.
  • Research and request archived materials; our on-site staff are all experienced in helping researchers find all the resources they need.
  • Plan to have plenty of time; archival research can be time-consuming.

Policies & Reading Room Rules

Can

  • Can use pencils only with five (5) loose sheets of your own notes
  • Can have water bottles (must remain on designated nearby table)
  • Can use quiet voices in research areas
  • Can handle materials with care
  • Can use mobile phones, laptops and cameras on silent mode
  • Can bring children (must be supervised)
  • Can use materials on-site only
  • Can ask staff for assistance

Can Not

  • Can not use pens, markers, or highlighters
  • Can not have food and beverages (other than a water bottle on designated nearby table)
  • Can not use flash photography
  • Can not have bags, backpacks, cases, or personal items in the Reading Room
  • Can not make loud noise
  • Can not check out or borrow materials
  • Can not use AHC computers for recreational purposes

Available Equipment

  • Photocopier: Photocopy rate $.20 per page
  • Document scanner to scan documents to a USB drive, or sent to your email
  • Devices for viewing historical records
    • Two microform reader-printers. The image files can then be either e-mailed via webmail or transferred to a flash drive.
    • Computers to access Austin History Center and Austin Public Library reference databases.
    • VCRs, DVD players, record and audiocassette players for accessing items from our Audiovisual collections. Some older audiovisual materials may require preservation digitization before viewing because of the fragile nature of historic tape formats.