The Archives Committee meets monthly.
This virtual meeting is held via Zoom / Conference Call.
Contact CARLI Support for attendance details.
Events
Thu, Nov 5, 2026
/ 9:30am to 11:00am
The Resource Sharing Committee meets monthly. This virtual meeting is held via Zoom / Conference Call. Contact CARLI Support for attendance details.
Thu, Nov 5, 2026
/ 2:00pm to 3:00pm
This session explores how K–12 media specialists and academic librarians can work together to build strong, sustainable pathways for AI and media literacy. The program highlights shared challenges, practical teaching strategies, and collaborative tools that support students as they move from foundational learning through higher education and beyond.
Participants learn how these partnerships can strengthen critical thinking, ethical AI and media use, and research skills throughout a lifetime. We offer real‑world examples and easy starting points for anyone interested in creating a connected, future‑ready learning community.
Presenters:
Brooke Becker, MLIS, serves as the Media Literacy Librarian and subject liaison to Communication Studies, Political Science & Public Administration, and Psychology, Ms. Becker is the co-author of the article "The Rise of AI and the Evolution of the Academic Librarian" as well as two forthcoming book chapters dealing with media literacy and faculty/K-12 partnerships. Ms. Becker is passionate about travel, her scrappy furball friends, and ensuring media and AI literacy become as well-known and popular as the Eras Tour.
Summer Upton spent two decades in Alabama public high schools as a classroom teacher and library media specialist before joining the faculty of UAB Libraries in 2024. She holds degrees in secondary English language arts education and P-12 library media. She currently serves as Reference Librarian for Education and Educational Technology and liaison to the UAB School of Education and Human Sciences. Ms. Upton loves spending time with her nieces and nephews, reading children's and young adult books, traveling as much as her budget allows, and caring for her geriatric cat Scout.
Hosted by FLVC
Fri, Nov 6, 2026
/ 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Are you working on open educational resources (OER) or curious about what others are doing in your field? Join us for a lively virtual meet-up designed to spark ideas, share experiences and tips, and explore opportunities for cross-institutional OER partnerships.
This session is all about connection and inspiration. We’ll:
- Hear about current OER projects in development or use;
- Discuss concerns / problems you have encountered;
- Share tips on possible solutions;
- Discuss areas of interest for future collaboration;
- Create space for teaming up on shared goals and initiatives.
Whether you’re just getting started or already deep into OER work, this meet-up is a chance to learn from peers, build new relationships, and imagine what’s possible together.
Facilitator: Yasmine Abou-El-Kheir, City Colleges of Chicago
Sponsored by the CARLI OER Committee.
Sun, Nov 8, 2026
/ 2:00am to 3:00am
If needed, Ex Libris will perform a release update on our I-Share Alma and Primo VE environments to make adjustments to the latest release that was applied the week before.
This update occurs between 2:00am-3:00am Central. Access to your environment may be unavailable during the time of installation.
Release and Maintenance Schedule
Ex Libris System Status Page - CARLI I-Share Environments are on Alma NA06 and Primo VE NA06
Tue, Nov 10, 2026
/ 9:00am to 10:00am
Location
Quad Room
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
1900 South First Street, Champaign
Agenda
9:00–9:10 a.m. Welcome and Introduction of the Governance Board
Speaker: Michelle Boule Smith, Director of Library Services, North Central College, Chair CARLI Governance Board
9:10–10:00 a.m. Discussion: What WE Heard from you
Speaker: Laurie Blandino, CARLI Director
A brief overview of themes from the September listening sessions followed by discussion of what those themes mean for CARLI’s work in the coming year.
Registration
To register, please click on the "Register" tab above. The registration deadline is November 3.
The CARLI Annual Meeting will begin immediately following the Directors' Meeting. To register for the Annual Meeting, please complete the registration form. A separate registration is required for each event.
Interested in Carpooling to Champaign?
CARLI occasionally receives questions from members about shared transportation options for the CARLI Annual Meeting. For those who would like to try this option, we have created a carpooling event for the Annual Meeting using the freely available service Group Carpool.com.
Carpool and Ride Share Signup Sheet for your Group
- Drivers will need to add their vehicles.
- Riders (once a vehicle is available) can join the ride. There’s a waitlist for riders needing vehicles.
- You’ll need to make your own arrangements for meeting each other.
- CARLI is not responsible for these arrangements, and is not reimbursing for travel expenses.
Event Sponsors
GOLD Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Tue, Nov 10, 2026
/ 10:00am to 3:00pm
Location
Chancellor Ballroom
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
1900 South First Street, Champaign
Agenda
10:15 a.m. Welcome and CARLI Update
Speaker: Michele Boule Smith, Chair, CARLI Governance Board, Director of Library Services at North Central College
Speaker: Laurie Blandino, CARLI Director
Speaker: Sarah Zehr Gantz, Senior Assistant Vice President for Academic Initiatives and Policies, University of Illinois System
11:00 a.m. What Illinois Academic and Research Libraries Need: A Working Session on Value and Advocacy
Facilitator: Kara Malenfant, Assistant Professor, Dominican University School of Information Studies
Facilitator: Devin Savage, Library Dean, Lake Forest College
A facilitated working session on what academic libraries in Illinois need to make the case for their value on their own campuses, and where the gaps are between the advocacy resources that already exist and what libraries can actually use. This session is designed as a working conversation. Input gathered here will inform the continuing work of the CARLI Advocacy Task Force.
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. Keynote Address: Advancing the Academic Library Agenda for Higher Education in Illinois
Speaker: John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary
Academic libraries are key partners in shaping the future of higher education in Illinois. Join John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, the national political action committee for libraries, for a keynote presentation that will explore a positive, theory-of-change approach to advocacy that moves beyond defensive actions and into a framework where academic libraries are helping to build the systems of support that contribute to institutional capacity, student success, research, academic freedom, and statewide higher education goals. We will examine emerging issues in Springfield and Washington, including higher education funding, accreditation reform, federal policy disruption, and the evolving role of libraries in institutional quality and accountability. The session will demonstrate ways for you to strengthen relationships with campus leaders, faculty, students, policymakers, and other higher education stakeholders.
2:15 p.m. Afternoon Table Talks (in person attendees only)
Registration
Anyone may register to attend the CARLI Annual Meeting!
To register to attend in-person, please click on the "Register" tab above. The registration deadline is November 3.
We are also providing a virtual streaming option for those who wish to attend online. To attend virtually,register here.
If you need to cancel your in-person registration, please email CARLI Support.
If you are a CARLI director, or a CARLI director's designee and planning to attend the Directors Meeting before the Annual Meeting, please register for that meeting as well.
Room Block
There are a limited number of rooms in a block available at the I Hotel for guests that require an overnight stay. You can book this reservation online or if you call, you need mention the code CARLI1126 when making the reservation. Here is the booking information for an online booking. Use this link for making a reservation.
You will enter:
- Group/Block Code: CARLI1126
- Guest Password: 9mj#o
Interested in Carpooling to Champaign?
CARLI occasionally receives questions from members about shared transportation options for the CARLI Annual Meeting. For those who would like to try this option, we have created a carpooling event for the Annual Meeting using the freely available service Group Carpool.com.
Carpool and Ride Share Signup Sheet for your Group
- Drivers will need to add their vehicles.
- Riders (once a vehicle is available) can join the ride. There’s a waitlist for riders needing vehicles.
- You’ll need to make your own arrangements for meeting each other.
- CARLI is not responsible for these arrangements, and is not reimbursing for travel expenses.
Event Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Tue, Nov 10, 2026
/ 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Academic Access Services departments are often overwhelmed with urgent daily demands that can undermine core principles, long term goals, and strategic initiatives. Losing the forest for the trees in this way can contribute to burnout, staff and student employee turnover, low morale, delays in service, and poor customer service. This session explores a strategic approach to leadership to nurture a thriving and sustainable work environment. Using real-world examples this presentation will demonstrate how intentional collaboration, self-reflection, and compassionate conflict resolution not only avoids common pitfalls, but creates an environment for individual and collective wellbeing and growth. After learning about the real-world examples, attendees will work through a guided self-reflection exercise to apply what they learned to meet needs and challenges at their home institutions.
This webinar is appropriate for anyone serving in a supervisory role at an academic library, including support staff who supervise student employees.
Presenter:
Catherine Paolillo is the Head of Access & Outreach Services Librarian at the University of San Diego's (USD) Copley Library. She earned her BA in visual arts from CSU Chico and a MLIS and MS Art History from the Pratt Institute. In her role as Department Head she oversees circulation, resource sharing, course reserves, day to day building operations, and the department's vital student assistant program. She is also responsible for the library's social media presence, organizing outreach events such as the annual Banned Books Week celebration, and supporting other library marketing efforts. In her role as a tenure-track faculty librarian, Catherine serves on several library committees, is the liaison to USD's first-generation students, produces original research, and contributes to the profession through professional development and service opportunities outside of USD.
Hosted by FLVC
Wed, Nov 11, 2026
/ 12:00am to 11:45pm
Limited availability of CARLI Staff. Responses to non-emergency support tickets may be delayed.
Thu, Nov 12, 2026
/ 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Regardless of our roles, many of us interact and engage with students online. In an increasingly digital world with continuously evolving technologies, it can be difficult to connect with students, especially across spatial and temporal distance. Grounded in both research and practice, this session will explore how we can center humanity – ours and our students’ – to foster connection and support learning in online spaces. Participants will learn actionable strategies for translating characteristics like humor and creativity into teaching and engagement practices. While this session will focus on the asynchronous environment, participants will be able to apply strategies to other learning and engagement contexts.
Presenter:
Grace Therrell is an Associate Professor and the Student Success Librarian for Online Pedagogy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. With 9 years of teaching experience and 7 years of online teaching and learning experience, she identifies sustainable and effective approaches to support students who are learning and engaging with UT Libraries online. She is an active contributor to campus initiatives that support librarians and teaching faculty as educators and lifelong learners. Broadly, Grace conducts research on teaching and learning in academic libraries. She is also pursuing a PhD in Adult Learning from the University of Tennessee, where she is studying how academic instruction librarians construct meaning and find value in their work.
Hosted by FLVC