The Society of California Archivists (SCA) invites submissions of session proposals for our 2027 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in-person from April 7-9, 2027 at the Monterey Marriott in Monterey, CA.
The deadline for proposals is Monday, November 9, 2026 (11:59pm PT). If you have a particular topic in mind and are looking for co-presenters, please use the SCA AGM ideas spreadsheet to make connections.
The Program Committee invites your submissions, especially those based on next year's theme Archival Intelligence.
While recent technological advancements give us the ability to parse massive datasets, generate transcriptions, and draft preliminary metadata, they cannot replicate the core engine of our profession: human judgment, empathy, critical appraisal, and ethical responsibility. Rather than viewing technological tools as turnkey replacements for professional expertise, this theme re-centers the archivist as an indispensable resource. What frameworks or policies do you use to evaluate privacy, copyright, and ethical sensitivities that automated tools miss? How can archivists actively engage with AI tools while preserving core human-centered values?
Archival Intelligence encourages us to highlight our own roles as experienced decision makers and problem solvers. The Program Committee especially wants to encourage submission of sessions focusing on, but not limited to:
- Practical skills for navigating recent technological advancements, both in relation to AI and other automation tools
- Budget planning
- Metadata and description, especially experiences with scraping bots
- Grant writing and grant project management
- Accessioning and processing workflows
- Donor relations
- Accessibility for digital assets
- Public service and teaching
- Oral history practices
Possible session types include:
-- Panel Discussion: Session with a panel of three to four individuals informally discussing a variety of theories or perspectives on the given topic(s).
-- Traditional: Session with two to three fully prepared papers of fifteen minutes each and a comment and discussion period after the papers.
-- Lightning Talk: Fast-paced session with many concise papers presented under a tight time limit, with details of the limit determined by the proposer.
-- Poster Presentation: A summary of your research, scholarly, or creative project in a visually engaging manner. Presenters will be expected to be stationed by their poster at a specified time during the AGM to discuss the poster with viewers.
-- Alternative Format: Don’t feel confined by the prescribed formats - suggest an alternative or create your own! Sessions may take a variety of forms. We welcome your creative ideas about how your topic might best be addressed.
The Program Committee will review all proposals and contact the session chair mid-November 2026. All presenters are required to register for the AGM and may only present at one session.
Submit your proposals here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemg3qd_lw5itvcgHds0mvEprRfhmHhk8ACI2E7MSSYXYyLrw/viewform
SCA is committed to making the AGM welcoming and accessible to all presenters and attendees. If you need specific accommodations to support your participation in this event, please contact the Program Committee co-chairs Mallory Furnier, atvicepresident@calarchivists.org,or Christina Velazquez Fidler, at membersatlarge@calarchivists.org
Sincerely,
The 2027 SCA-AGM Program Committee
