Making Your Case to Attend

Attending ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026, July 29–August 1, in New Orleans, is an investment in your professional development—and in the success of your institution. As the largest annual gathering of archives and records professionals, the conference offers practical strategies, new tools, and valuable connections that help archivists and records managers address today’s challenges and prepare for the future.

If you need institutional support to attend, the information below can help you demonstrate the value of the conference to your supervisor or organization.

Why Your Institution Benefits

By attending ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026, you’ll gain knowledge and skills that directly support your organization’s mission, including:

Strengthening digital preservation programs

Learn practical approaches for managing born-digital records, preserving digital collections, and ensuring long-term access to institutional materials.

Improving access to collections

Explore new methods for description, discovery, and ethical access to archival materials.

Addressing privacy and ethical challenges

Sessions examine strategies for balancing transparency, privacy, and responsible stewardship of sensitive collections.

Adapting to emerging technologies

Learn how archivists are evaluating and responsibly using technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve workflows and discovery.

Enhancing records governance and compliance

Discover strategies for managing records across complex organizations and ensuring accountability.

Building professional networks

Connect with colleagues facing similar challenges and exchange solutions that can be applied to your own institution.

Topics Being Explored at the 2026 Conference

The education program at ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026 addresses many of the most pressing issues facing archives and records professionals today. Sessions will explore topics such as:

• Ethical access and privacy in archival collections
• Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in archives
• Digital preservation strategies and infrastructure
• Managing born-digital materials
• Community archives and inclusive collecting
• Records management and governance
• Advocacy and leadership for archival programs
• Collaboration across cultural heritage institutions

Leave the conference with practical ideas and solutions that can be immediately applied at your institution.

What You Can Bring Back to Your Institution

Participation in ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026 helps you return with knowledge that benefits your entire team.

After attending, you can:

• Share new workflows for managing digital and born-digital materials
• Introduce strategies for responsible access to sensitive collections
• Identify tools and technologies that improve description and discovery
• Apply new approaches to records governance and compliance
• Provide colleagues with summaries or training on key conference sessions
• Build collaborations with peer institutions

Sample Justification Statement

You may wish to adapt the following language when requesting funding:

Attending ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026 will allow me to learn new strategies for digital preservation, records management, and access to archival collections. The conference brings together archives and records professionals from across the country to share practical solutions and emerging best practices.

By participating in sessions relevant to our work, I will gain knowledge that can improve our workflows, strengthen our stewardship of institutional records, and enhance access to our collections. After the conference, I will share key takeaways and resources with colleagues to ensure the entire team benefits from the experience.

Tips for Requesting Institutional Support

When requesting funding to attend the conference, consider emphasizing:

• How the conference aligns with your institution’s goals
• Specific sessions or topics relevant to your work
• How you will share knowledge with colleagues after attending
• The long-term value of staying current with professional standards and practices

Additional Funding Opportunities

In addition to institutional support, you may wish to explore other funding options, such as:

• Travel awards offered by the SAA Foundation;
• Professional development funds available through your institution;
• Support from regional or state archival organizations.

Who Should Attend

ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026 is valuable for professionals across the cultural heritage community, including:

• Archivists and special collections librarians;
• Records managers and information governance professionals;
• Digital preservation specialists;
• Librarians and museum professionals working with archival materials;
• Students and emerging professionals in archives and records management.

Join the Archives and Records Community in New Orleans

ARCHIVES * RECORDS 2026 offers a unique opportunity to learn from colleagues, discover new tools and ideas, and strengthen the future of archives and records management.

We hope to see you in New Orleans this summer.