The Society of American Archivists (SAA) Council convened a special meeting on January 7, 2026 to address several priority agenda items requiring action prior to the next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. This additional session supported timely decision‑making and ensured continuity in the Council’s ongoing governance and planning responsibilities.
Strategic Planning Efforts Continue
The Council received an update from the SAA Executive Committee on the development of the next Strategic Plan. Member engagement opportunities will occur throughout January and February, supporting the drafting of a plan to be presented to Council for approval at the May 2026 meeting.
Council Explores AI Task Force Formation
To address the growing impact of artificial intelligence on archival practice and SAA’s future work, the Council discussed forming a dedicated task force. A subset of Council members will draft the task force charge in the coming weeks.
Planning for the Future of the Annual Meeting
The Council reviewed membership options for a future task force or working group charged with developing recommendations for the SAA Annual Meeting beyond 2030. Additional information will be shared once the group’s charge is finalized.
Upcoming Council Meeting
The next Council meeting will be held on February 17 and 19, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CT on both days. Register to attend that meeting here.
Document Submission Deadlines
To support adequate review time, materials for the February Council meeting are due January 13, 2026. Documents submitted after the deadline may be postponed to a future meeting or considered for interim action.
Media ContacT:
Additional inquiries may be directed to:
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SAA Headquarters
Society of American Archivists
Chicago IL
saahq@archivists.org------------------------------