The morning sessions set a strong tone, with concurrent presentations covering the integration of accessibility testing into the e-resource acquisition process (a timely reminder that collecting VPATs is only the beginning) and a candid look at print and electronic continuing resources assessment at Clemson University Libraries. After a morning break, the second round of concurrent sessions continued the momentum with three compelling offerings: a panel discussion on the changing scholarly landscape and what librarians need to know about shifts in access, an experimental approach to using AI for LCSH subject analysis in print cataloging workflows, and a thought-provoking examination of the downstream impact of cancelled approval plans.

Lunch brought a welcome break alongside a lively set of user group meetings, with gatherings for FOLIO users, law librarians (who also enjoyed a tour of the UW Madison Law Library) and a session on ISSN news including updates on ISSN-H.

Additional informal sessions covered everything from breaking down communication barriers between technical services and subject specialists, to a conversation about reclaiming time and space for scholarship, to a discussion of minimum viable MARC bibliographic records. There was truly something for every corner of our community.

The afternoon centerpiece was our Vision Session, featuring Mondo Vaden on “Information and Intersectionality in the Digital Millennium.” Opening with a thoughtful disclaimer and an intentional space for candid conversation, Mondo drew on their published research to explore the vital role that non-traditional and virtual information sharing mediums play in creating better information access outcomes for people experiencing multiple, overlapping forms of oppression.

From zines to Tumblr, Mondo made a compelling case that non-mainstream platforms are not fringe curiosities but rather legitimate and valuable contributions to the discourse on coloniality, decoloniality, and how resistant knowledges manifest according to the needs of the communities that create them. Threading in themes of intersectionality, critical race theory, and counter-storytelling, they challenged the audience to consider where serials and the information sciences fit in an era of unchecked technological advancement and increasingly complex information dispersal. The path forward, Mondo argued, includes unpacking neutrality, conducting proactive audits around inclusive language and information access, and embracing adaptability. It was a timely, thought-provoking, and deeply human call to action. Plus he brought zines for us to take home!

Following the afternoon break, a final round of concurrent sessions closed out the program with characteristic NASIG depth and practicality, a case study on transitioning from IP-based to federated access and its impact on support requests, lessons learned from managing two system migrations simultaneously, and strategies for working within a flat or stable budget environment. A fitting end to three days of rich, relevant, and community-driven programming.

And as a true testament to NASIG conference goers’ problem solving skills, we were able to complete the 1,000 puzzle that was available in the lobby of the Great Hall. Our eagle-eyed members completed it with plenty time to spare, and keeps the tradition of the NASIG puzzle alive and well.

The conference concluded with the NASIG Business Meeting and Closing Remarks, a warm and fitting capstone to a wonderful three days.

Outgoing President Jacqueline Brellenthin offered heartfelt thanks to the many presenters, volunteers, committees, and sponsors whose tireless work made NASIG 2026 possible. She celebrated the contributions of outgoing board members Paul Moeller, Christian Burris, Nicole Ameduri, and Heather Staines, and formally introduced the incoming Board before passing the baton to incoming President Willa Liburd. Willa introduced a change to hold the Member’s Forum virtually, expanding access and flexibility for the full membership. The measure was voted in unanimously.

Congratulations to Willa and the new Board — we are in great hands! A lively raffle closed things out, with attendees winning gift cards, tote bags, and one lucky winner taking home a free registration to next year’s conference.

Speaking of next year, mark your calendars! NASIG Autumn will be held October 6–8, and the NASIG Annual Conference returns June 8–10, and both will be held virtually. We hope to see you there!

Madison, you were a wonderful host. To everyone who presented, volunteered, sponsored, and showed up; thank you. NASIG 2026 is in the books, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!

The brave early risers among us kicked things off with the traditional NASIG Ramble, a beloved conference ritual that gets the blood flowing and the conversations started before the rest of the world has had its coffee.

The morning concurrent sessions offered something for everyone. Topics ranged from using gap analysis to strengthen library collections, to updating electronic resource workflows and procedures, to assessing the author experience and impact of open access publishing agreements. The Program Planning Committee have really out done themselves this year, curating timely and practical content that reflected the breadth of what our community grapples with every day.

The Vendor Expo and poster sessions were also open throughout the morning, giving attendees a chance to connect with vendor colleagues and explore the great work on display. Vendor partners this year included Bloomsbury Digital Resources, BMJ Group, Coherent Digital, Cloud Source, EBSCO, Harrasowitz (who also sponsored yesterday’s E&I award), IOP Publishing, MDPI, Oxford University Press, StackMap, Springer Nature, We would like to thank all of our sponsors; they help make the NASIG Annual possible.

After a morning break, a second round of concurrent sessions kept the momentum going, covering collaborative approaches to print and e-resource cancellation workflows, a thought-provoking look at Wikipedia’s epistemology, and strategies for navigating departmental change and productivity. Vendor Lightning Talks rounded out the late morning with brief, energetic highlights of new products and services of interest to our community.

The afternoon continued with concurrent sessions including a practical talk on integrating student workers into e-resources projects and an exploration of using AI to solve legacy metadata problems in serials and government documents. And rounding out the session block with a smile, Heather Staines’ Alice’s Adventures in NASIGland offered a delightful musical interlude, where an ensemble cast delivered a little whimsy, some NASIG history, and a lot of fun.

Then came a highlight that never gets old; the Ice Cream Social (sponsored by Springer Nature), held alongside the Great Ideas Showcase, where poster presenters were on hand to discuss their work, as well as a chance for conference goers to again engage with our vendor sponsors. It is one of the most enjoyable hours of the conference, equal parts sugar and inspiration.

Snapshot Sessions closed out the formal programming of the afternoon with a lively and wide-ranging series of short presentations covering accessibility, ageism, AI, and that was just the A’s! True to form, the Snapshot Sessions delivered the kind of rapid-fire, community-driven content that is one of the most fun and energizing parts of the NASIG program.

The evening brought our popular Dine-Arounds, where groups headed out across Madison to enjoy dinner together at local restaurants, which is one of the best traditions in the NASIG playbook for getting to know colleagues old and new.

The Late Night Social followed, keeping the conviviality going well into the evening at Das Rathskeller at Memorial Union.

Another stellar day in Madison. Day 3, we’re ready for you!

The morning kicked off with three pre-conference workshops running concurrently, each offering deep, practical learning opportunities. Mandy Hurt of Duke University Libraries and Heidy Berthoud of the Library of Congress led an engaging session on cataloging comics and zines, including thoughtful discussion of the ethical dimensions of proposing subject and genre headings for zine materials. Meanwhile, NASIG preconference perennial, Steve Shadle of the University of Washington offered a thorough introduction to serials cataloging, walking attendees through the fundamental principles of original cataloging for print serials, MARC 21 tagging, and the RDA CONSER standard record. Rounding out the morning, Karen Kohn of Temple University led a popular hands-on OpenRefine workshop…a practical, interactive introduction to this powerful open source tool for wrangling messy library data, whether from catalog records, KBART files, or usage reports. Participants came ready with laptops and left with new skills.

The early afternoon opened the main conference in style. Amy Carlson welcomed everyone with conference logistics, followed by NASIG President Jacqueline Brellenthin offering a land acknowledgement of the Ho-Chunk tribe and Teejop people, a donation to the American Indian library association and a warm welcome to Madison.  Todd Enoch and Susan Davis had the honor of introducing this year’s award winners, including the Equity & Inclusion Award, Teresa Malinowski First Time Award, and the John Merriman joint NASIG/UKSG Award. Congratulations to our award winners this year!

Then came our keynote, “What Do Librarians Know?”, delivered by Raina Bloom, Reference Services Coordinator for UW-Madison Libraries, and it was one for the books. Opening with a vivid, real-world story of a student who discovered a fake AI-generated article, leading the library to contact CrossRef and ultimately work with Clarivate to have the predatory journal removed from Ulrich’s registry, Raina used S.R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science as a framework to explore what librarians know and why it matters.  Tracing how those laws, grounded in mathematical rigor and affirmations of truth, apply to our broader information landscape today. She noted that while librarians rank among the most trusted professionals, the public remains largely unaware of the depth of that expertise, and that technology companies frequently operate in ways indifferent to principles librarians have long held central. Her message was inspiring and timely: in an era of generative AI, librarians are not bystanders in the information ecosystem.  They are essential.

The late afternoon featured a rich lineup of concurrent sessions spanning a wide range of topics at the heart of our work: forecasting user behavior with e-resource usage data, collecting and managing streaming video from independent creators, unpacking the fictions and failures of metrics in the scholarly ecosystem, partnership-driven open access, collection intelligence using AI, and more. There was truly something for everyone.

One of the beloved traditions of our in-person conference made its return as well, jigsaw puzzles, drawing attendees in throughout the day for a few satisfying clicks between sessions. The race is on to see if it gets finished before we pack up and head home!

The day closed on a high note with our evening reception at Tripp Commons and out on the Tripp Deck, where colleagues gathered over heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks for some of the best part of any NASIG conference.  The colleague connections and conversations that happen when you put this community in a room together. First-timers were welcomed warmly at dedicated tables, a tradition that reflects everything NASIG is about.

Day 1 is in the books. Madison, you’re off to a great start.

These informal groups serve to promote discussion among NASIG attendees who have a shared interest in a topic, workflow, or problem. The emphasis of these sessions is open discussion and the generation of new ideas.

More details and a submission form available here.

Please reach out to the Program Planning Committee if you have questions, and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!

NASIG Program Planning Committee

Website: https://nasig.org/Program-Planning-Committee

Email: nasigppc@gmail.com

Nestled between the shimmering waters of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Wisconsin’s capital blends collegiate energy, natural beauty, and genuine cultural depth in a way few midwestern cities can match. Whether you have a few hours between sessions or a full free evening, you’ll find no shortage of things to explore and many of them a short walk from the conference venue. This guide pulls together the best of what Madison has to offer, from outdoor escapes and world-class architecture to lively restaurants and weekend markets.

Below are some selected options in or close to downtown Madison. Visit the guides in the more info section for additional things to do in Madison.

Arts/Culture/Museums

Madison punches well above its weight when it comes to culture. The city’s deep ties to the University of Wisconsin give it an intellectual energy that’s visible everywhere. From the historic Memorial Library to a nationally recognized contemporary art museum. And for architecture enthusiasts, Madison sits at the heart of Frank Lloyd Wright country, with several of his most celebrated works within easy reach.

(Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House)

• Wisconsin State Historical Society
• Memorial Library

• Madison Museum of Contemporary Art 
• Wisconsin State Capitol Tours
• Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

Outdoor Activities 

With two lakes, hundreds of miles of trails, and a university arboretum that doubles as a working ecological reserve, Madison is a dream for anyone who likes to step outside. June is one of the best times of year to be here: long daylight hours, warm temperatures, and everything in full bloom. Even a 30-minute stroll along the lakeshore is enough to understand why locals are so fiercely proud of this city.

(Lakeshore Nature Preserve)

• UW Arboretum
• Biking and Hiking Trails
• Lakeshore Nature Preserve
  • UW Lakeshore Path (pick up right from the Memorial Union)
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens
• Wingra Park and Boat Livery

Restaurants 

Madison’s dining scene is unpretentious, locally driven, and genuinely excellent. The city has a long tradition of farm-to-table cooking long before it became fashionable. This is in thanks in large part to the weekly farmers market and a culture that takes local ingredients seriously. From acclaimed brunch spots to classic supper clubs and lively evening dine-arounds, there’s something for every appetite and schedule. Wednesday evening is a great time to join fellow attendees for the organized dine-around options.

(Bassett Street Brunch Club)

• Downtown Madison Restaurant Guide
• Google Map List of nearby and/or well-rated restaurants
• Google Map List of restaurants chosen for Dine-Arounds on Wednesday evening

Shopping 

State Street — the mile-long pedestrian corridor connecting the Capitol to the UW campus — is Madison’s beating commercial heart. You’ll find an eclectic mix of independent boutiques, bookshops, vintage stores, and local food purveyors. If you’re around on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, don’t miss the Dane County Farmers Market on Capitol Square, one of the largest and most celebrated producers-only markets in the country. And for everyday essentials, everything you might need is within a short walk on State Street.

(Farmer’s Market)

• Downtown Madison Shopping Directory
• Dane County Farmers Market on the Square (Wed and Sat)
• Essentials
  • Okashi (market and food takeaway): 542 State Street
  • Walgreens: 676 State Street
  • Pinkus Market Convenience Store: 673 State Street
  • Target: 610 State Street
  • Fresh Madison Market: 703 University Avenue

Sports 

A warm June evening at the ballpark is one of Madison’s simple pleasures. The Madison Mallards play in the Northwoods League; a summer collegiate league known for its fun, fan-friendly atmosphere and genuine love of the game. It’s the kind of baseball that reminds you why the sport is great: affordable, unhurried, and genuinely enjoyable whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for a relaxed evening out.

• Madison Mallards Baseball

Theaters/Comedy Clubs

Madison has a lively performing arts scene that belies its size. The Overture Center is the city’s premier arts destination, hosting everything from Broadway touring productions to chamber music. The historic Orpheum Theatre offers a more intimate setting for live performances in a beautifully restored Art Deco venue. And for a lighter evening, Comedy on State has been a beloved fixture of Madison nightlife for years, and a great way to unwind after a full day of conference sessions.

(Orpheum Theater)

• Overture Center for the Arts
• Comedy on State
• Orpheum Theater

More Information

Want to go deeper? These resources will help you plan your time in Madison; whether you’re bringing family, have an extra day to explore, or just want to get the most out of the Memorial Union Terrace (which, trust us, you absolutely should).

• Destination Madison
• Downtown Madison
• Things to Do in Madison, WI: A Complete Guide for Attendees & Their Families
• 20 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Memorial Union
• Wisconsin Union Events and Activities 

Webinar Details

Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern
Location: Zoom
Spaces Available: 288

About This Webinar

How can libraries address outdated, offensive, or biased terminology in their catalog systems? What does reparative cataloging look like in practice at a large urban public library? Join Amy Mikel of Brooklyn Public Library and Miriam Gloger of BookOps for an in-depth look at the reparative cataloging practices being implemented at BPL and the ongoing efforts to create a sustainable, evolving approach that serves diverse stakeholders across a major urban library system.

What You’ll Learn

This session will explore:

• Collaborative and inclusive approaches to reparative cataloging that work across institutions
• Practical strategies for implementing local terms in your OPAC to better serve your community
• Technical considerations for flagging and addressing problematic terminology from LCSH and other standard thesauri
• Opportunities and challenges faced when undertaking this important work in a large library system with 62 branches
• Sustainable processes for maintaining inclusive cataloging practices over time

Whether you’re just beginning to consider reparative cataloging or looking to enhance existing efforts, this webinar offers actionable insights from practitioners leading this work in one of the nation’s busiest public library systems.

Meet Your Presenters

Amy Mikel is the Senior Director of Customer Experience at Brooklyn Public Library, where she oversees exceptional library services across 62 branch locations. Her responsibilities span reference, circulation, collections strategy, and patron account management for print, media, eBooks, and database collections. Mikel’s innovative work has earned national recognition from Library Journal, the Urban Libraries Council, and the American Library Association. She publishes and presents widely on information literacy and patron access.

Miriam Gloger serves as a supervising librarian on the Branch Cataloging team at BookOps, the shared technical services organization serving The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. With extensive experience in Catalog Database Management and Metadata projects across both systems, she brings deep technical expertise to reparative cataloging initiatives. Gloger holds an MLIS from Pratt Institute and degrees in History and Judaic Studies from Stern College, Yeshiva University.

Registration Information

Registration Deadline: May 13, 2026 (for live event)

Can’t attend live? No problem! This webinar will be recorded and made available to all registrants after completion.

Recording Access: Purchase access through August 13, 2026. After that date, the recording will be made freely available to all.

Registration Rates

• FREE for NASIG Student Members (login to NASIG website before registering)
• FREE for NASIG Members (login to NASIG website before registering)
• FREE for NISO or SSP Members with code (email cec@nasig.org to receive your code)
• $25 for Non-Members
• $50 for Group Registration (no size limit—one person registers and shares login details with their group)

Register Now

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from leaders in reparative cataloging and discover practical strategies for making your library’s catalog more inclusive and responsive to your community’s needs.

Register Here

Questions about this webinar? Contact the NASIG Continuing Education Committee at cec@nasig.org

We’re excited to invite all NASIG members to our annual Business Meeting, taking place in person as part of the Closing Session at the 41st Annual NASIG Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

What to Expect

This year’s Business Meeting promises to be both reflective and forward-looking as we celebrate achievements, welcome new leadership, and chart our course for the year ahead.

Meeting Highlights

Celebrating Service and Welcoming New Leadership We’ll take time to recognize and thank our outgoing board members and committee chairs for their dedicated service to NASIG. You’ll also meet the 2026-2027 board and be introduced to our incoming President, who will share their vision for the organization’s future.

Important Governance Updates Members will have the opportunity to review and discuss proposed changes to our Bylaws regarding future business meetings—an important conversation about how we gather and make decisions as an organization.

Virtual Forum Announcement We’ll be voting on an exciting proposal to hold our 2026 Annual Member’s Forum virtually on Zoom this August, creating an additional opportunity for member engagement and connection outside our traditional conference format.

Looking Ahead Get a first look at plans for the 2027 Annual Conference as we continue building on NASIG’s tradition of bringing together serials and electronic resources professionals.

Business Meeting Agenda

1. Call to order
2. Recognition of outgoing board members and committee chairs
3. Introduction to the 2026-2027 board and incoming President
4. Introduce proposed changes to Bylaws regarding future business meetings
5. Discussion and Vote to hold 2026 Annual Member’s Forum virtually on Zoom in August 2026
6. Announcement of 2027 Annual Conference
7. Adjournment

Join the Conversation

Whether you’re a longtime NASIG member or attending your first conference, the Business Meeting is your opportunity to participate in the governance of our organization and help shape its future direction.

When: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 4:30 PM Central
Where: Closing Session, 41st Annual NASIG Conference, Madison, WI

We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate our community and plan for another year of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

Members-at-Large

Todd Enoch, University of North Texas
Lisa Martincik, University of Iowa

Secretary-in-Training

Sarah Dennis, University of Notre Dame

On behalf of the Nominations & Elections Committee, we would like to extend warm congratulations to the elected candidates, as well as sincere thanks to all of the candidates who were willing to stand for office.

The Nominations & Election Committee

Jenn Zuccaro, Chair (Syracuse University)
Rachelle McLain, (Montana State University)
Diana Ried, (University of Louisville)
Ian Scofield, (Oregon State University
Paul Moeller, Board liaison (University of Colorado, Boulder)

Have you ever wondered who is behind the standards in our industry? Have you ever wished you had a chance to share your thoughts on how standards could be improved? This panel webinar will provide a peek behind the curtain to see what it is like to be on a standards committee and how you can get involved yourself. Our panelists have served on a wide variety of standards committees and groups that you will be familiar with in your day-to-day work. They can provide advice and set expectations on getting more involved in the standards creation process. This webinar is sponsored by the NASIG Standards Committee.

Speakers:

• Keondra Bailey, Standards Program Manager (NISO)
• Bobbi Patham, Global Manager, Discovery & Discovery Services, Springer Nature Group (KBART committee member)
• Kevin Balster, Continuing Resource Management Team Leader, UCLA Library (PCC member)
• Heather Staines, Senior Consultant at Delta Think! (COUNTER Education Committee)

Date: April 20, 2026

Time: 2:00-3:00 PM EDT

Registration:  https://nasig.org/event-6603514

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration Deadline for live event: April 20. This webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants after the webinar is completed. The last date to purchase recording: July 20. After July 20 the recording will be made freely available.

WEBINAR RATES

$0.00 for NASIG Student Members. Login to NASIG website before registering

$0.00 for NASIG Members. Login to NASIG website before registering

$35 for NISO or SSP Members with code. Email cec@nasig.org to receive code

$60 for Non-Members

$120 for Group Registration. No size limit. One person registers and shares login details with their group.

Register at: https://nasig.org/event-6049286

If you have any questions or issues with registration, please email cec@nasig.org

Do I Need a Mentor? – A Panel Discussion

Date: April 8, 2026

Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time

Registration:  https://nasig.org/event-6596560

Description

Mentorships offer an opportunity for skill development, networking and professional growth. This panel session will discuss the variety of reasons why a graduate student or early career professional may want to have a mentor as well as strategies for how to get the most out of a mentoring relationship. Panelists include previous and current mentor and mentee participants of the NASIG Mentoring Program.

Attendees will learn:

• Why you might need a mentor
• What a successful mentoring relationship can look like
• Ways to be a proactive mentee
• Different mentorship styles and experiences
• How the NASIG Mentoring Program works and benefits it offers to participants

About the NASIG Mentoring Program: https://nasig.org/Mentoring-Program

Speakers:

Moderator Tamara Pilko is Electronic Resources Librarian at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a member of the NASIG Mentoring & Student Outreach Committee.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration Deadline for live event: April 8th. This webinar will be recorded and made available to registrants after the webinar is completed. The last date to purchase recording: July 8th. After July 8th the recording will be made freely available.

WEBINAR RATES

Free for NASIG Student Members. Login to NASIG website before registering

Free for NASIG Members. Login to NASIG website before registering

$35 for NISO or SSP Members with code. Email cec@nasig.org to receive code

$60 for Non-Members

$120 for Group Registration. No size limit. One person registers and shares login details with their group.

Register at: https://nasig.org/event-6596560