CARLI News September 30, 2026
CARLI Annual Meeting and Annual Directors Meeting
The 2026 CARLI Annual Meeting is all about library advocacy! Our keynote speaker, John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary will present, "Advancing the Academic Library Agenda for Higher Education in Illinois". The session will examine key issues in Springfield and Washington and demonstrate ways for you to strengthen relationships with campus leaders, faculty, students, policymakers, and other higher education stakeholders.
Register now to attend on Tuesday, November 10, at the I Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign. There is also a virtual option for those who wish to attend online.
There will be a meeting of the CARLI Governing Directors preceding the annual meeting. If you are planning to attend both meetings, please register for each one.
The complete agenda can be viewed on the registration page.
All staff at CARLI member libraries are welcome to attend. We hope you will join us!
Updating Your CARLI Membership Page
Please take a moment to look at your membership page on the CARLI website and send any necessary updates to CARLI Support with the subject line, Directory Update. Thanks so much for helping us keep your membership page up to date!
CY27 Selection Period
Plan your E-Resources calendar year selections now! The E-Resources calendar year 2027 brokering period will be open on or around October 5 and will close on November 13.
Getting Started with LibreTexts: Conductor and the Libraries - October 14, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Join the CARLI staff as we demonstrate some of the uses of LibreTexts Conductor for project planning and management. This workshop will also get you started on remixing, adapting, or creating your OER project. Please register in advance.
CARLI Technical Services Committee Fall Forum - October 20
Registration is now open for the upcoming in-person Technical Services Committee (TSC) Fall Forum!
Join the CARLI TSC and your colleagues on October 20 at Elgin Community College. The agenda is still being finalized, but the confirmed sessions and descriptions are shared on the Registration Page. This event is in person only to provide opportunities for networking with your CARLI colleagues.
Elgin Community College has ample free parking, and lunch will be provided by CARLI!
Registration will close on October 12.
Free Speech Needs Free Libraries: Introduction to Reflective Conversations - October 27, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Reflective conversations are framed, yet open-ended, dialogues about ideas. Instead of focusing on coming to consensus, finding solutions, or debating an argument, the goals of reflective conversation are exploration, learning through listening, and building community.
Jennifer Alkezweeny (Oregon Humanities) will introduce the concepts and applications of reflective conversations: when to use them, the differences between reflective and decision-making conversations, and some of the practices for facilitation. As an introductory webinar, this session will be less interactive than a full training, but participants will be asked to self-reflect, with opportunities to share-out. (Breakout rooms will not be used.)
This webinar is the second of the Free Speech Needs Free series developed by CARLI, Orbis Cascade Alliance, and PALCI in support of our joint statement "Free Speech Needs Free Libraries."
Objectives:
- Understand the framework for Reflective Conversations
- Identify the difference between Reflective Conversations and other types of conversations
- Begin to identify how these types of conversations might be used in your library
Register to attend!
Four Virtual OER Meetups for Faculty, Instructors, and Librarians
The CARLI OER Committee is sponsoring four upcoming virtual meetups intended for faculty, instructors, and librarians. Join us for a lively virtual meet-up designed to spark ideas, share experiences and tips, and explore opportunities for cross-institutional OER partnerships.
- OER Meetup for STEM Faculty, Instructors, and Librarians – October 23, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
- OER Meetup for Health Sciences Faculty, Instructors, and Librarians – October 30, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
- OER Meetup for Social Sciences Faculty, Instructors, and Librarians – November 6, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
- OER Meetup for Humanities Faculty, Instructors, and Librarians – November 13, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Ask a Preservation Expert
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 hour on Thursday, November 19, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 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 session and hear what other CARLI members want to know.
Please register to attend.
Electronic Resources Management Tea (ERMT)
The ERMT: Electronic Resources Management Tea is continuing through the end of 2026!
Join us on the fourth Wednesday of the month in October from 9:00–9:45 a.m. on Zoom. In November and December, we will meet on the third Thursday from 9:00–9:45 a.m. to accommodate holiday schedules.
More information about ERMT is shared on the CARLI E-Resource Contacts mailing list. If you are not currently a subscriber, visit the link to subscribe.
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!
- October 5: Small, Meaningful Progress: Implementing a Readability Widget for a Neuro-Inclusive Library Website
- October 6: Cultivating Organizational Change Through Conflict Transformation
- October 6: The Gen-Z Stare & Other Mysteries of Library Instruction
- October 6: (Social) Media Literacy: Teaching Everyday Information Literacy Skills for College Students
- October 13: Creating a Comprehensive AI Training Course for Community College Students
- October 15: Mind the Social Gap: Addressing Student Social Needs through Library Programming with Limited Resources
- October 20: Practical Usability for Small Teams
- October 22: Research is every day: Applying lessons learned from doctoral research to improve library outreach and engagement
- October 22: Cultivating a Culture of Recreational Reading in the Academic Library
- October 22: Managing a Busy Schedule & Dealing with Burnout
- November 3: Evidence-Based Library Advocacy: Assessment Strategies for Every Library Type
- November 5: Building Foundations for Future Success in AI and Media Literacy
- November 10: We're All in this Together: Developing and Sustaining a Thriving Access Services Department
- November 12: Centering Humanity to Connect with Students Online
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.
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!
Other Library News
RAILS Online Roundtable: Textbook Affordability - October 2, 10-11 a.m.
Register now to join the RAILS Online Roundtable: Textbook Affordability.
Join Jessica Silva, Member Engagement Specialist from RAILS; Carolyn Ciesla, Director of the A.C. Buehler Library at Elmhurst University; Michelle Boule Smith, Director of Library Services at North Central College; Michele Leigh, Open Illinois Senior Coordinator at CARLI; and Kelly Hallisy, Scholarly Communications and Social Sciences Librarian at DePaul University, to learn more about textbook affordability in Illinois and ways to support student learning and to provide affordable resources.
Upcoming CARLI Events and Meetings
Consult the CARLI calendar to view the current list of meeting times and locations.
Contact Us
Please direct all questions and comments about the e-newsletter to CARLI Support.
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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.