CARLI News March 25, 2026

CARLI Committee Volunteer Application Open through May 1

If you have been considering volunteering for a CARLI committee, the application period will remain open until May 1. Volunteers chosen for a committee will serve a three-year term. Faculty and staff from all CARLI member libraries are encouraged to apply! 

Service on CARLI committees and task forces affords individuals a unique opportunity to use their experience and expertise to help shape the future of the consortium and its services. You can find more information including the charges for the various committees from the committee directory.

We hope you will apply during the 2026 committee volunteer period!

CARLI Governance Board Nominations – Deadline March 27!

CARLI is seeking nominations for candidates to fill seats on the CARLI Governance Board. The Board is the governing authority of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois.
 
CARLI Governing Members will elect one Board member from each of three specified constituencies (public universities, community colleges, and private colleges and universities). Candidates receiving the most votes for each constituency will serve three-year terms, July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.

Only the director of a CARLI Governing Member institution is eligible to serve on the Board of Directors. The director is defined as the person who is operationally responsible for the staff, services, and budget of the library, with titles that include, but are not limited to, Director, Dean, Chair, or Head Librarian. 
 
Members of the CARLI community may nominate themselves or others (permission of the nominee is required when nominating others) by filling out the online nomination form.
 
All nominations will be reviewed and a slate of candidates developed by the CARLI Nominating Committee comprising Stefanie Bluemle (Augustana College), Brian Keith (Eastern Illinois University), and Rachelle Stivers (Heartland Community College), Laurie Blandino (CARLI), and Margaret Chambers (CARLI).
 
The nomination period will close at 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 27.
 
If you have any questions or if you have problems submitting a nomination, please email CARLI support with the subject line: Board Nominations.

CARLI, IHLS, and RAILS Announce ILDS Turnaround Time Change

Due to sustainability, efficiency, and safety reasons, the Consortium for Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), and the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) are announcing a change to the Illinois Library Delivery Service (ILDS).

What is ILDS?

ILDS is an interlibrary loan delivery service for academic and research libraries in Illinois. CARLI manages the program under a grant from the Illinois State Library and enlists the regional library systems for logistical support. That is, IHLS and RAILS serve as contracted couriers for ILDS.

What is changing about ILDS?

We are moving the RAILS and IHLS delivery vans′ regular meetup time. Currently, RAILS and IHLS shuttles meet every weeknight in Champaign to exchange materials. These shuttles will now meet during the day, rather than at night.

What does this mean for CARLI libraries?

Effective Monday, June 29, 2026, the shuttles will begin meeting during the day.
 
This change will mean that some items will now have a 48-hour turnaround time instead of 24 hours. The change will only impact items that are traveling between two separate hubs. Items that stay within their respective systems′ service areas will be unaffected.
 
Other than this change, statewide interlibrary loan delivery will remain the same. We at CARLI, IHLS, and RAILS understand that ILDS is a significant benefit for our member libraries. We find this change necessary for several reasons: 

1. Sustainability – Rising costs in staffing, vehicles, fuel, and facilities have required CARLI, IHLS, and RAILS to take a closer look at costs.
2. Efficiency and Service – Uniform service will result in fewer cancelled routes and more consistent service. You can expect materials moving locally through IHLS or RAILS service centers to maintain a 24-hour turnaround time.
3. Security and Liability – The move from 24 to 48 hours allows us to better ensure the safety of system couriers.

What does this mean for non-CARLI libraries?

IHLS and RAILS libraries that do not participate in CARLI will see little to no change in their delivery turnaround times.

We appreciate your understanding in this matter. We hope this change will cause minimal disruption to our interlibrary loan delivery patterns.

For more information, please contact the following organizations:
 
CARLI:  support@carli.illinois.edu, or 217.244.7593
IHLS: delivery@illinoisheartland.org, or 618.467.8683
RAILS: communications@railslibraries.org, or 630.734.5000

Apply for the CARLI Scholarship by June 1

The CARLI Scholarship provides financial assistance to current employees of CARLI Governing Member Libraries pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master′s Degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Scholarships may be awarded for both on-campus and/or distance education programs.
 
Applicants must be employed by a CARLI Governing Member Library at the time of application. Preference is given to full-time employees, but part-time and student employees may also apply. The applicant must also be enrolled or accepted and will be a student in a graduate school program during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received. First-time recipients are given preference, but students may apply for and be awarded the scholarship more than once. Candidates awarded the scholarship must supply proof of admission or enrollment to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before the scholarship is disbursed. Applications are due on June 1, 2026.
 
Application instructions are available at https://www.carli.illinois.edu/membership/carli-scholarship-apply.

Give to the CARLI Scholarship Fund

We would like to thank our donors for their generous contributions to the scholarship fund. You can give to the scholarship fund online. The minimum donation is $5.00. We hope you will consider supporting future librarians and help CARLI grow the profession with a contribution.

CARLI Encourages Member Participation in the ACRL Library Trends and Statistics Survey

The 2025 ACRL Academic Library Trends and Statistics Survey deadline has been extended through March 31, 2026. With the conclusion of the IPEDS Academic Library Component, the ACRL survey has become the primary source of comprehensive data about the impact and value of academic libraries.
 
Your participation in this survey enables effective benchmarking, assessment of impact over time, tracking of emerging trends, and demonstration of library value to your administration. When CARLI members complete the survey, the collective data enhances our ability to demonstrate the consortium's value and supports our ongoing advocacy efforts.
 
Resources to help you complete the survey:

• I-Share libraries can access statistical reports to help you complete the survey. Visit the I-Share Annual Statistical Package page for guidance on using CARLI′s reports to answer specific ACRL survey questions. Section 3b of that page includes detailed instructions for matching CARLI statistics to ACRL survey questions. If you have questions about accessing or using these reports, please contact CARLI support.
• View the "Noon Knowledge Exchange: Completing the ACRL Academic Library Trends and Statistics Survey" recording from February 18, 2026 where Devin Savage, Dean of Libraries at Illinois Institute of Technology and Elizabeth Brown, Director of Assessment at Binghamton University - State University of New York discuss with CARLI members questions, snarls, and sticky spots when completing the ACRL survey.

Upcoming Public Services Committee Open Houses

The CARLI Public Services Committee is hosting three open houses this Spring at CARLI member libraries, focusing on learning commons and collaborative library spaces. The in-person events both have a limit of 25 attendees. Registration is now open. 

Kishwaukee College Learning Commons and Collaborative Library Spaces Open House - April 8, 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Join us at Kishwaukee College in Malta and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on Wednesday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. We will explore collaborative library learning spaces and discuss the challenges and opportunities they present. Libraries interested in enhancing their spaces and services, especially through partnerships with other campus units to support student success and well-being, will find this event valuable.

Registration deadline is April 2 at 5:00 p.m.

A Virtual Visit to Sauk Valley Community College Learning Commons - April 21, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

CARLI's Public Services Committee will continue to explore shared library learning spaces with a virtual presentation by Sauk Valley Community College's (SVCC) Learning Commons Library Coordinator Jackie Hanson, Library Coordinator Kelsey Head, Writing Center Coordinator Zak Forkner, and Tutoring Center Coordinator Jenny Brown. SVCC is a small, rural community college located in northwest Illinois. The Learning Commons department is made up of the library, writing center, and tutoring center.

This webinar will give an informational overview of their Learning Commons followed by a Q&A session. If you were interested but unable to attend the in-person Learning Commons and Collaborative Library Spaces Open Houses, this event is for you!

The webinar will be recorded.

Oakton College Learning Commons and Collaborative Library Spaces Open House - May 27, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Visit the new Learning Commons at Oakton College in both Des Plaines and Skokie on May 27. Attendees will be able to learn more about what went into creating these contemporary, student-centered spaces that bring together academic resources and support services into a single, dynamic hub designed to foster collaboration and academic achievement. There will also be a panel discussion with various stakeholders that share the space.

Attendees will begin the day at the Des Plaines campus of Oakton College then shift to the Skokie campus in the afternoon.

Space is limited to 25 attendees, so please register soon! Registration deadline is May 11 at 5:00 p.m.

Call for Proposals for the 2026 Instruction Showcase

The CARLI Instruction Committee invites proposals for the 2026 Instruction Showcase, a forum for library workers across our consortium to share teaching approaches, practical strategies, and reflective insights currently shaping library instruction being held on June 4.
 
This year′s theme "Trust Us: The Role of Library Instruction in Transforming Landscapes" centers on trust and how we cultivate it with students, collaborate with colleagues, navigate systems and emergent technologies, while also developing our own expertise in a rapidly shifting information landscape.

We anticipate that most presentations will be 15-20 minutes, but please indicate if you would be interested in presenting a lightning talk to briefly present an idea or work in progress, or a 50-minute workshop to fully present a topic. Presentations may focus on:

1. Teaching demonstrations of current instruction practices, activities, or assessment (in-person, hybrid, or online), teaching materials, or learning tools and sneak peaks of those still in development.
2. Presentations reflecting on instruction practices, activities, or assessment, teaching materials, or learning tools (in-person, hybrid, or online)
3. Larger issues of cultivating or addressing trust in issues of instruction.

Deadline for Submissions: April 2, 5:00 p.m.

Notification of Acceptance: April 23

Free Speech Needs Free Libraries: Censorship in Libraries and Academic Spaces - April 16, 1:00–2:30 p.m.

During this time of attacks on freedom of expression, libraries matter more than ever. Join us to find out more about the legal and social context for censorship in libraries. Theresa Chmara and Dr. Emily Knox will discuss the legal history of censorship, the legal landscape today, why people censor, and how to respond.

This webinar is the first of the Free Speech Needs Free Libraries series developed by CARLI, Orbis Cascade Alliance, and PALCI in support of our joint statement "Free Speech Needs Free Libraries."

E-Resources News

FY2027 E-resources Brokering Selection Period Open April 6–May 18

The FY 2027 E-Resources brokering period for libraries to make selections will tentatively be April 6 to May 18.

We will be offering products from Bloomsbury, EBSCO, Gale, Kanopy, MLA, Swank, The Chronicle of Higher Education, ProQuest, and Oxford University Press.
 

Electronic Resources Management Tea (ERMT)

These tea sessions are an opportunity to gather with electronic resources management peers, network, ask questions, comment on aspects of ERM that you are struggling with and/or are enjoying, and find community with a group of folks that are dealing with the same concerns and issues. 

The tea sessions will be held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. through May 2026. The next session will be on April 22.

Using Analytics to Pull Your Data/Working with Vendors/ SUSHI without Analytics - April 13, 1:30–2:30 p.m. 

Learn about importing usage statistics into Alma, LibInsight, and other free SUSHI harvesters. We will demonstrate how to set up vendors and how to generate reports on these platforms. 

OER Update

Call for Proposals: CARLI Member OER Initiative

The deadline to apply for financial support for OER Initiatives at your institution is coming up on March 31 at midnight. 

The Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries of Illinois (CARLI) is pleased to announce the availability of its application for the CARLI Member OER Initiative. This OER Initiative will provide financial support to CARLI member libraries to increase the awareness and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) at their institutions.
 
For detailed information and to access the application materials, view the CARLI Member OER Initiative website. CARLI will fund approximately $300,000 in total for the CARLI Member OER Initiative.

Open Illinois Add-a-Thon: A Hands-On Workshop for Adding OER to OER Commons - April 23, 1:00 p.m.

Join us for a virtual Open Illinois Deposit a Thon, a hands-on session designed to help participants upload and share their materials in the Open Illinois Hub in OER Commons. We will begin with a brief training on the deposit process, including what kinds of materials can be shared, how to prepare your submission, and how to navigate the platform. After the training, we will move into a working session where participants can upload materials together, ask questions, and get support in real time. This is a chance to learn the process, make tangible progress, and meet others doing this same work.

All CARLI Members are invited to have a presence on the Open Illinois Hub. The CARLI Open Illinois Hub webpage has information about adding your institution to the Collaborate section of the hub.

LibreTexts Workshops

The following LibreTexts workshops are open to all CARLI members:

Using LibreStudio to Create H5P Assignments in LibreTexts - April 7, 1:00 p.m. 

Are you interested in adding dynamic assignments to your Open Educational Resources? Want to learn how to add H5P learning tools to your course materials? Then this is the course for you. You should also request access to LibreStudio on the LibreTexts site prior to the class so we can get you started creating new learning tools. This workshop is part of a series of workshops designed for the support of Open Education Resources in the State of Illinois and funded by the Support of the Creation of Open Education Resources grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education. 

Getting Started with LibreTexts: Conductor and the Libraries - April 16, 1:00 p.m.

Please join the CARLI as we demonstrate some of the uses of LibreTexts Conductor for project planning and management. This workshop will also go over getting you started on remixing, adapting, or creating your OER project. This workshop is part of a series of workshops designed for the CARLI members who have opted in to use LibreTexts. 

Using LibreTexts to Remix, Adapt, and Create OER - April 22, 3:00 p.m. (https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/RLyeRtVgRROaJaX1UILHpQ)

Please join the CARLI as we demonstrate some of the uses of LibreTexts Conductor for project planning and management. This workshop will also go over getting you started on remixing, adapting, or creating your OER project.

This workshop is part of a series of workshops designed for the CARLI members who have opted in to use LibreTexts.

Partial Registration Support for Creative Commons Certificate

Partial registration support is available for up to five library workers at CARLI member institutions to participate in the Creative Commons Certificate Program.

Creative Commons (CC) licensing is a type of license commonly used with open educational resources. The course delves into the Creative Commons licenses and open practices. This 10-week certificate course is asynchronous, online training, with options for synchronous discussions.

To qualify, members must register for a course that begins prior to June 30, 2026. In return for CARLI's financial contribution to your registration fee, we ask that you provide CARLI with at least two of the resources you created during the certificate program so that all of CARLI may benefit from these projects.

For complete details on how to register for the course and receive the MHEC discount, please visit the program web page.

Archives Announcements

Come One, Come All for a Peek into the ISU Circus & Allied Arts Collection

Milner Library at Illinois State University and the CARLI Archives Committee invite CARLI members to an Open House on April 16 from 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. that showcases Milner Library′s Archival Circus & Allied Arts Collections. Attendees will get an up-close glimpse of Special Collections at Milner Library, including the Circus & Allied Arts Collection, which is one of the three largest of its kind in the United States.

With complex collections comes a range of issues relating to arrangement and description, access, outreach, and care.

Come experience the spectacle of an archival collection that documents over a century of the circus in America. This collection contains over a million items, including manuscripts, correspondence, business records, posters, ephemera, books, photographs, advertisements, costumes, and more.

Registration Open: Ask an Archivist! - April 20, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Do you have questions related to archival practices and archives administration? Join the CARLI Archives Committee for Ask an Archivist virtual office hours where committee members will be on hand to answer questions, offer advice, and share resources to help you with your archives. Questions related to appraisal, arrangement, processing, outreach, and advocacy for physical and digital archives are welcome.

CARLI Member Archives Collection Highlight

This month's archives collection highlight is from the Harper College Athletics Collection- Football Audiovisual Series held in the Harper College Archives. This special portion of the collection includes films, videotapes, and microcassettes of the 1973-2011 Harper College Football team.

Read this full article for more on this special collection.

Professional Development Alliance Events

The following programs from the Professional Development Alliance are currently on the calendar. Programs are offered on a wide variety of subjects. Check out everything the alliance is making available to our libraries!

• March 31: The Facilitation Librarian: Collaborative Conversations for Community
• March 31: Personal Workflows, Tips, and Tricks to Make Our Jobs Easier

• April 2: Open Education vs Inclusive/Equitable Access: Cage Match vs Co-Existence?
• April 2: Rewriting the Inner Critic: Using Writing as a Tool to Challenge and Transform Self-Doubt
• April 7: Small Changes, BIG Impact: Making Library E-Resources Impossible to Miss
• April 8: From Concept to Display: Creating Impactful Library Exhibitions
• April 9: Management 103 - Managing with Emotional Intelligence
• April 14: Teaching Data Literacy
• April 14: Visibility Over Perfection: Social Media for Libraries
• April 16: Copyright and OER Creation
• April 16: From Exhibition to Engagement: Art in the Library and Campus Connections at Florida State University
• April 21: Social Crafting: Building Community, Creative Expression, and Individual Resilience
• April 21: A Virtual Visit to the Sauk Valley Community College's Learning Commons
• April 21: Starting from Scratch: Accessibility Planning at the University of Memphis Libraries

• May 6: Protecting Collections: Proactive and Responsive Strategies for Environmental Damage
• May 13: Supporting Student Well-Being: De-Stress Programming in Academic Libraries
• May 14: Save the Date: FERPA and Digital Privacy for Library Workers

To register, visit the CARLI Event Calendar.

Recordings of past CARLI-sponsored PDA events are available on the Professional Development Alliance website when permitted by the presenter. 

View recordings of past AI-specific PDA webinars offered this fiscal year, compiled by Minitex.
 
Are you interested in presenting a topic for CARLI members and the Professional Development Alliance? Or would you like to moderate a follow up discussion for an upcoming program? Email us to become more involved in CARLI′s continuing education efforts!

From Concept to Display: Creating Impactful Library Exhibitions - April 8, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Join us for a webinar on creating impactful library exhibitions. Melanie Emerson (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and Leora Siegel (Chicago Botanic Garden, Lenhardt Library) will draw on their experience across academic, museum, and research library contexts to illuminate the value of exhibitions as a core library function. They will consider why exhibitions matter—how they activate collections, advance institutional missions, support teaching and research, and cultivate meaningful engagement with diverse audiences. From increasing the visibility of underrepresented materials to opening new entry points into collections, exhibitions provide dynamic opportunities to interpret, contextualize, and connect.

Supporting Student Well-Being: De-Stress Programming in Academic Libraries – May 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

This panel discussion will explore how academic libraries can support student well-being through intentional de-stress programming. Panelists will highlight practical programs such as Welcome Week initiatives, scavenger hunts, crafting events, low-stakes social events, Finals Week activities, and more. Attendees will leave with adaptable ideas for implementing effective, inclusive de-stress programs in their own libraries and learn more about contributing to a healthier campus environment.

Preservation News

The CARLI Preservation Committee invites all members to the following programs:

Ask a Preservation Expert - May 1, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Do you have questions about the best way to store and preserve your institution′s collections? Join the CARLI Preservation Committee for Ask a Preservation Expert virtual office hours. Committee members will be on hand to answer questions, offer advice, and share resources to help you plan for the long-term preservation and access of your materials. The Preservation Committee includes members who specialize in archives and special collections, conservation, collections care, disaster planning, and more.

Don′t have a specific question? You′re still welcome to join the sessions and hear what other CARLI members want to know.

Protecting Collections: Proactive and Responsive Strategies for Environmental Damage - May 6, 1:00–2:00 p.m. 

Stay informed about all the ways you can prepare your organization and protect your materials from disaster or poor climate conditions. Water, mold, pests, and unstable climates can threaten irreplaceable archival and library collections. Join Matt DeCirce from Polygon to discuss how institutions can better prepare for environmental risks and implement effective recovery strategies to protect valuable materials and minimize long-term damage.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Identify the most common threats to archival and library collections
• Implement preparedness strategies that reduce risk and improve response
• Prioritize stabilization and response actions following environmental damage
• Understand the specialized recovery services that are currently available
• Develop practical emergency preparedness and recovery plans

Preservation Tip

Beyond Paper: In or Out? Outsourcing Versus In-House Considerations for Preservation and Digitization Work
Sata Prescott, Northern Illinois University

Materials care and preservation can be tricky, and your institution might not be equipped to handle every possible need for every conceivable situation. Perhaps you are well-equipped to manage vinegar syndrome and mold but have trouble with reformatting audio-visual materials. Perhaps you have an excellent setup for two-dimensional digitization for reflective material, but don′t have much expertise on how to handle transparent items like film negatives.

Read the full article that presents the major issues to consider when approaching whether to attempt care in your own institution or seek outside assistance.

Other Library News

HSLI 2026 Annual Conference

The Health Science Librarians of Illinois (HSLI) 2026 Annual Conference is taking place virtually September 29–October 1.
 
Join colleagues from across the state for engaging virtual programming, valuable networking opportunities, and continuing education credits as HSLI celebrates their history and looks ahead to the future of health sciences librarianship.
 
For updates and additional details as they become available, please visit: https://hsli.org/newsletter/conference/.

Upcoming CARLI Events and Meetings

Consult the CARLI calendar to view the current list of meeting times and locations.

Contact Us

If you need disability-related accommodations to participate in any of the events mentioned below, please email the CARLI Office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

Registration is typically required for CARLI events. For more information and to register for events, please visit the event page links found in each item.

Please direct all questions and comments about the e-newsletter to CARLI support. 

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