San Antonio Public Library on July 5 announced that the Texana Resource Center, at the Central Library downtown, 600 Soledad St., is undergoing a $2 million renovation project will SAPL officials said will introduce new spaces, archival storage and retrieval systems, and a new gallery exhibit space to the library’s sixth floor.

The Texana Resource Center houses SAPL’s historical archives and genealogy collections and provides family history research assistance to the community.

SAPL Director Ramiro Salazar said resources available in the Central Library’s Texana and genealogy collections provide extensive access to records that document the history of the San Antonio area and South Texas region.

“We’re excited for the extensive renovation currently underway to improve the experience of all visitors to the Texana Resource Center, and I look forward to welcoming the community back once the renovations are complete,” Salazar said in a statement.

According to SAPL officials, the project will update the 21,000-square-foot sixth floor of Central Library with the following new and improved amenities:

  • New flexible classroom
  • New listening station
  • New gallery and exhibit space
  • Improvements to the Texana vault, which houses the library’s special collection materials within a climate-controlled environment
  • Improvements to the Family History Area, including study areas
  • Functional improvements to group consultation and individual research spaces
The project, which began earlier this summer, is funded through the voter-approved 2017 and 2022 city bonds. Additional funding for the project was raised by the San Antonio Public Library Foundation through private charitable donations, library officials said.


SAPL representatives said the Texana Resource Center and the entire sixth floor of Central Library is closed to the public for the duration of the project.

For now, Texana and genealogy services will be available on the first floor of Central Library across from the main information desk during regular library business hours of noon-8 p.m. Tuesdays, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Texana services are not available on Mondays, and the library is closed Sundays.

For ongoing updates regarding this and other library bond projects, visit this website.

Library staff are available to assist users by phone at 210-207-2500 or online at http://ask.mysapl.org.