Governance / Archives Committee Meeting: March 9, 2026

Archives Committee Meeting: March 9, 2026

Zoom / Conference Call

Members attending: Brandi Fialek (Harper College), Rebecca Fitzsimmons, co-chair (Illinois State University), Melody Hauf-Belden (Principia College), Ashley Howdeshell (Northeastern Illinois University), Meghan Ryan (National Louis University), Erin Zimmerman (Heartland Community College)

Members absent: Matt Gorzalski, co-chair (Southern Illinois University Carbondale), Elaine Fetyko Page (Elmhurst University), Steven Szegedi (Dominican University)

CARLI Staff attending: Elizabeth Clarage, Martin Kong

Decisions

  • The Feb 9, 2026 minutes were approved.
  • Summer program will focus on archives & emotional labor, tentatively mid-June.
  • Ask an Archivist (April 20) will include Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) discussion framed as a chat.
  • Newsletter highlights will use a teaser + link to full article; CARLI will create a landing page.
  • Open House (April 16) programming and logistics confirmed.

Tasks Assigned

  • Minutes taken by Erin Zimmerman. (Switched months with Steven)
  • Rebecca Fitzsimmons will confirm dates and recording permissions with April, for the summer program.
  • Brandi Fialek will draft the Ask‑an‑Archivist save‑the‑date and write the March highlight; Due 03/18/26.
  • Elaine Fetyko Page will write the April highlight; Due 04/22/26.
  • Meghan Ryan will write the May highlight; Due 05/20/26.
  • CARLI staff will send registration messages and create the highlights landing page.
  • All presenters and committee members, who are attending, must register for the April 16th Open House.

Announcements

  • CARLI Announcements:
    • April 8, 1-2p.m.: From Concept to Display: Creating Impactful Library Exhibitions
    • May 6, 1-2p.m.: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Services; Matt DeCirce, Polygon (registration not yet available)
    • Upcoming (dates and registration not yet available): Summer Digitization Series in collaboration with the Florida Virtual Campus (June and July) which will include webinars with the Chicago Collections Consortium and the Revs Institute, the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, FLVC’s digitization in a box efforts, crowdsourced transcription projects, and more!

Discussion

  • Open House & April 16th Meeting Logistics
    • In-person attendees must register (lunch provided by CARLI; capacity limited). Hybrid option available for the 1:00 p.m. committee meeting. Morning schedule: 9:30–10:00 arrivals with coffee & exhibits; then formal programming including a talk by Mark Schmidt (circus collections), preservation and digitization presentations (Becky Koch, Ellie), and a segment on a costume digitization grant (metadata, outreach, and practical challenges with textiles and posters/newsprint). Potential split tours of the preservation lab depending on group size. 
  • Summer Program Planning
    • Planning meeting notes for “Archives 101” were added to Box; the committee pivoted to a single speaker webinar on emotional labor/difficult donor conversations (relationship building, ethics, estate complexities, collaboration with Advancement), to serve as the summer offering. PDA expansion approved in principle; committee members will handle intro and monitor chat during the webinar. 
  • Ask an Archivist (April 20)
    • Will include WCAG/digital accessibility discussion framed as a chat, not a formal training, to avoid implying legal guidance; still open to general “Ask an Archivist” questions. Updated save-the-date text requested for newsletter and event page. 
  • Newsletter “Collection Highlights”
    • Due to newsletter length/engagement, items will move to teaser + link to full article (with images and alt text) and an aggregated landing page (name TBD; aim for consistency with Preservation Committee’s approach). CARLI staff will request the creation of the page and adjust Drupal navigation (“blind”) as needed. 
  • Future Topics
    • ArchivesSpace–Alma integration deferred to next meeting; Brandi to share contacts and prior training links she found (via Lyrasis). 

Next Meeting Dates and Deadlines

The Archives Committee will meet next on April 16, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

Upcoming Committee Meetings:
April 16, 2026: Minutes taker – Steven Szegedi
May 11, 2026: Minutes taker – to be determined
June 8, 2026: Minutes taker – to be determined

Deadlines:
May 29, 2026 – Committee Annual Report due to the CARLI Governance Board.