(a) Public access to archival state records and other historical resources in the possession of the agency will be granted under the following conditions, subject to subsection (b) of this section.
  (1) Access to archival state records and other historical resources maintained in Austin will be provided in the State Archives Reading Room of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building.
  (2) Access to archival state records and other historical resources maintained at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty, Texas will be provided in the Center's Reading Room.
  (3) Registration and presentation of a current photo identification is required to use original archival state records and other resources.
  (4) Researchers aged 17 and older may use original archival state records and other resources. Researchers between the ages of 13 and 16 are permitted to use original archival state records and other resources if supervised by an adult. One adult per researcher between the ages of 13 and 16 is required. Children aged 12 and under are not permitted to use original archival state records or historical resources.
  (5) All researchers and supervising adults, if applicable, must agree to and comply with the Reading Room Policies and instructions as provided by staff members.
  (6) Access will be granted during business hours for each location as posted on the agency's website or as may be amended from time to time by additional notice.
  (7) Request for access to archival state records or other historical resources must be submitted on a material request form whether the request is a Research Request or a Public Information Act (PIA) Request.
(b) The agency may restrict access to any original archival state record or other historical resource in its possession and provide only copies if, in the opinion of the state archivist, such access would compromise the continued survival of the original item. The state archivist will consider the following factors in the consideration of requests for access to original archival state records or other historical resources:
  (1) physical condition of the archival state record or resource;
  (2) availability of a digital or other facsimile copy of the archival state record or resource;
  (3) the intrinsic or monetary value of the item to the State; and
  (4) any other factor that, in the opinion of the state archivist, may compromise the continued survival of the original item.

Source Note: The provisions of this §10.2 adopted to be effective June 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 3663; amended to be effective March 6, 2023, 48 TexReg 1293