The 2026 Unconference will take place on Wednesday, May 6th and will feature attendee-led discussions on current aspects of managing electronic records in state and territorial archives. The overall theme this year is RESILIENCE and will begin with a large group Keynote on Lessons in Longevity. Smaller group discussion sessions will be divided into two tracks and will cover the following topics:
- Digital Preservation
- Access
Each session will have a moderator and a subject expert who is experienced with that topic to help "STEER" the discussion forward. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions ahead of time to help shape the discussion in addition to the robust, in-the-moment conversations that make STEER such a successful event.
The STEER Unconference is planned and executed by the STEER Working Group:
- Josh Hager, State Archives of North Carolina (chair)
- Tara Maharjan, New Jersey State Archives
- Grant Robertson, South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- Christian Skipper, Maryland Department of General Services
- Krista Sorenson, Wisconsin Historical Society
2026 Unconference Schedule
Opening Keynote Session: 12:00-1:15pm
Lessons in Longevity
Speakers:
- Mark Myers, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
- Ashley Yandle, State Archives of North Carolina
- Derek Clark, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Description: This year’s keynote session invites three state archives which have established electronic records programs to share their experiences and lessons learned. In this moderated, panel question and answer, we will explore what got their programs started, how they’ve weathered staffing and technology changes, the relationships they’ve built and the advocacy that takes place. After the planned discussion, there will be time to field questions from the audience.
Discussion Tracks (1:30-4:15pm)
Track 1: Digital Preservation
Moderators:
- Tara Maharjan, New Jersey State Archives
- Krista Sorenson, Wisconsin Historical Society
Digital Preservation Foundations
Time: 1:30-2:45pm
Subject Expert: Carol Kussmann, University of Minnesota Libraries
Description: Some of our state archives have adopted digital preservation systems for a decade or more, others are just getting started. Independent of what systems we use, what are the minimal practices for digital preservation that we need to be keeping in mind? In this session, we will reflect on what requirements we demand when setting up our digital preservation environment, hear from our subject matter expert about what other organizations such as NDSA advocate, and see if we can come to a consensus on what functionality is important to do digital preservation, system agnostically, in 2026.
Digital Preservation Implementations
Time: 3:00-4:15pm
Subject Matter Expert: Grant Robertson, South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Description: Building on the Digital Preservation Foundations discussion, this session will explore ways in which state and territorial archives implement digital preservation, from paid subscriptions to open source tools. In exploring how we do more with less, we will discuss topics such as the options for setting up digital preservation, vendor management, staffing requirements and skill sets needed, and ways in which digital preservation work intersects with IT.
Track 2: Access
Moderator: Josh Hager, State Archives of North Carolina
Digitization and Reformatting
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Subject Matter Expert: Mary Hammer, Washington State Archives
Description: In the first stop on the Access track, this session will look at the challenges of building and maintaining a robust digitization program. While the primary focus of this session is the digitization of analog materials and the creation of metadata that enables access, reformatting of born-digital records into more accessible formats will also be a topic of conversation. Archivists looking to begin in-house digitization or reformatting programs will have the opportunity to talk with long-time practitioners of digitization.
Confidentiality and Redactions
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Subject Matter Expert: TBD
Description: Accessing digital records involves a great deal of review for confidential information and, inherently, the need to redact that confidential information out of those records before providing access. Part 2 of the Access track will delve into questions of how archivists evaluate digital records for confidential information, how they organize redaction efforts, and what tools can assist with both steps of the process. The review and redaction of emails, which require innovative solutions in terms of scale, will be a central focus of the discussion.
Notes
To facilitate open discussion, the STEER Unconference is never recorded. Note takers are assigned to each session and compiled together to capture major topics, themes, and resources.
Thank You to Our 2026 SERI Sponsor
