2026 Election Candidates

I'm interested in engaging more with the I&A Steering Committee because I care deeply about workers' rights. I've seen firsthand how archivists and other information workers — especially early-career folks, neurodivergent people, veterans, and BIPOC professionals — can get burned out, pushed aside, or silenced. I've been there myself. I believe our professional organizations need to do more than talk about advocacy. They need to act.

I put that belief into practice through my volunteer work with the Georgia Library Association (Co-Chair of the EDI Task Force, Vice Chair of the Library Services for Persons with Disabilities Interest Group), and through the way I approach my own archival work — centering accessibility, transparency, and care for both the records and the people who use them.

If elected, I'd bring a project-oriented mindset, a collaborative spirit, and a whole lot of lived experience navigating complicated institutions. I want to help plan programming that actually speaks to what working archivists are facing, and make sure our advocacy efforts stay grounded in real people's needs.

Thanks for considering me. Let's do some good work together.

I am a Certified Archivist based in Half Moon Bay, California, with a strong passion for preserving and making accessible historical records. An avid reader, I bring curiosity and attention to detail to both my professional and personal pursuits. I currently volunteer as an archivist at two museums, where I support collection management, organization, and public access to archival materials. My work reflects a commitment to stewardship, lifelong learning, and connecting communities with their history.

I am interested in this position because it closely aligns with my background as a Certified Archivist and my professional focus on archival management, metadata, and compliance. Through my experience with organizations such as the Pacifica Historical Society, San Mateo Public Library, and the Local Agency Formation Commission, I have developed strong skills in document organization, digital accessibility, and quality control, particularly in ensuring ADA and regulatory compliance. I am especially drawn to opportunities that emphasize preserving and improving access to information while optimizing workflows for efficiency and accuracy. This role would allow me to apply my technical expertise in document formatting, metadata management, and archival practices while contributing to the stewardship and accessibility of important records.

When the economy collapsed in 2009 I saw libraries and archives being closed or heavily cut back because the public clearly did not understand the value that these institutions brought to society at large. It was at that point that I realized that we needed to be much better in advocating for ourselves and the value of what we offer. I have spent the intervening years educating others, including my employers, of the benefits a robust archives provides to an organization and beyond. It is critical that as a largely introverted profession that we do much more to reach out and tell our story and advocate for our value.

 

Sarah Wade
Head of Special Collections Archivist, Getty Research Institute

Biographical Statement

Sarah Wade (she/her) is a Special Collections Archivist at the Getty Research Institute (GRI), where she primarily processes modern and contemporary artist papers. Prior to joining the GRI in 2018, Sarah worked in a variety of special collections repositories, including the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Library and Archives, the Boston Public Library Rare Books & Manuscripts Department, and the Frances Mulhall Achilles Library at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She earned her MLIS with an advanced certificate in archives and her MS in art history from Pratt Institute. 

Candidate Statement

I have long admired the work of the I&A Section and would be honored to serve the group through active participation on its Steering Committee. I&A’s commitment to supporting advocacy efforts and engaging with critical issues affecting archivists and archives closely aligns with my current work on the ARLIS/NA Advocacy and Public Policy Committee (APPC), which advises the ARLIS Executive Board and membership on governmental activities and social justice issues that shape the professional interests of the ARLIS/NA community. If elected to the I&A Steering Committee, I would be eager not only to support I&A’s ongoing initiatives and outreach efforts, but also to explore opportunities for partnership with the APPC. In particular, I am interested in developing collaborative projects, programming, and resources that center advocacy issues relevant to libraries, archives, and cultural heritage institutions, and that offer practical strategies for addressing the challenges facing the GLAM profession in 2026 and beyond.