NAGARA's strength lies in the collective knowledge, experience, and innovation of its members, and we want to learn from you! Whether your work has uncovered a new approach, spotlighted an emerging trend, or revealed a meaningful lesson learned, we invite you to submit a Session Proposal for inclusion in NAGARA's 2026 Professional Development Programming lineup.
New for 2026, this single call for session proposals encompasses all of NAGARA's learning opportunities throughout the year - including programming for the in-person Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, and our many virtual offerings, including our biannual Online Forums, and the popular monthly NAGARA Webinar Series - offering you multiple ways to share your expertise with a national audience of archivists, records managers, and information professionals.
NAGARA welcomes a variety of presentation formats, including case studies, panels, and interactive discussions that highlight practical experiences and lessons learned.
Consider Submitting a Proposal for NAGARA's 2026 In Personal Annual Conference or Virtual Programming Lineup:
Annual Conference (~450 attendees)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | July 21–24, 2026
Each July, NAGARA's Annual Conference brings together hundreds of professionals from across the country for two and a half days of learning, networking, and inspiration. In-person sessions explore real-world challenges and practical solutions across all levels of government, offering a dynamic space for dialogue, discovery, and collaboration.
Online Forums (~300 attendees each)
2026 Spring Online Forum – April 24, 2026
2026 Fall Online Forum – October 30, 2026
NAGARA's Online Forums are one-day virtual programs that dive into specific topics. These "mini-conferences" connect professionals nationwide for a concentrated day of virtual learning, no travel required!
The NAGARA Webinar Series (~200 attendees each)
Eighteen webinars planned for 2026
NAGARA's Webinars offer focused, one-hour sessions highlighting practical tools, case studies, and innovative strategies. They provide an accessible, high-impact platform to share your expertise with a broad professional audience.
NAGARA welcomes proposals from all backgrounds, levels of experience, and government sectors. While all topics are encouraged, submissions addressing current and emerging themes in our field are especially welcome, including (in alphabetical order):
- Advocating for Archives and Records Management Programs
- Archives Outreach, Exhibits, and Cultural Storytelling
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Archives, Records, and Information Management
- Developing and Launching RIM Programs (with limited budgets and low maturity)
- Development of Policies, Standards, Workflows, and Tools
- Digital Evidence Management for Law Enforcement and Government
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Archives and Records Programs
- Electronic Records ISO Standards, Preservation, and Access
- Indigenous and Tribal Archives and Records
- Leadership and People Management
- LLMs (Large Language Models) and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
- Managing Disparate Information Systems (e.g., SharePoint, Shared Drives, HRIS)
- Microsoft 365 (implementation, labeling, retention, governance)
- Microsoft Copilot (implementation, designer, coaching, etc.)
- Professional Organizations, Certifications, and Mentors
- Program Administration in Archives and Records
- Public Records Requests / FOIA
- Records Migration Strategies
All proposals will be reviewed by NAGARA's volunteer committees and evaluated for relevance, format, and audience engagement. Proposals will only be considered for the program type(s) selected by the submitter (Annual Conference, Online Forum, or Webinar) to ensure each presentation is scheduled in its intended setting.
All who are selected to present (whether in person at the Annual Conference or virtually online) will receive a 25% discount on an Annual Conference registration as a thanks for their contributions to NAGARA's Professional Development mission.
Why Submit a Proposal?
Presenting through NAGARA's professional development programs is a meaningful way to:
- Share your ideas and experiences with a national audience
- Contribute to the advancement of the archives and records management profession
- Build professional recognition and visibility within the field
- Engage in dialogue with peers and leaders shaping the future of information governance
Session Proposal Submissions Have Closed
Thank you to all who submitted proposals to help shape another year of engaging, high-quality professional development programming. The submission deadline was Friday, January 16, 2026. We appreciate the time, insight, and expertise shared by all those who submitted a proposal.
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NAGARA is a professional non-profit association located in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the improvement of federal, state, and local government archives, records, and information management and the professional development of government records administrators and archivists. NAGARA represents over 2,200 members spanning county, municipal, and special district governments, state agencies (state records centers, archives and libraries), the National Archives and Records Administration; federal agencies and employees; public universities, and a number of provincial and institutional programs.