April 4, 2019—“WIPO must step forward to establish broad standards for [copyright] exceptions that recognize the non-commercial work of archives to preserve and make available the world’s cultural heritage,” said SAA representative Bill Maher at a meeting of WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 3. Read the full statement here.  

April 3, 2019—The Society of American Archivists is concerned about the recent decision by Hollins University President Pareena G. Lawrence to remove from the University’s institutional repository yearbooks containing offensive imagery of blackface. Read the full statement here.

March 4, 2019—SAA Vice President/President-Elect Michelle Light has notified the SAA Council of her resignation from that post, effective May 15, 2019. 

Light has taken a position with the Library of Congress that will preclude her from serving as SAA Vice President/President-Elect and President due to potential conflicts of interest. As noted in her Off the Record blog post,

February 28, 2019—The decision not to build a federally administered presidential library as part of the Obama Presidential Center has resulted in a robust discussion within and beyond the archives profession. SAA has not taken a position on the matter, but is aware of the many challenges associated with the rapid transition to electronic and born-digital records.

February 26, 2019—The 2019 SAA election is now live. Fourteen candidates are running for the offices of Vice President/President-Elect, Council, and Nominating Committee. Click on the candidates’ names on the slate to read their bios and responses to questions posed by this year’s Nominating Committee. Eligible voters have been emailed unique login information to access their ballot.