2026-2031 Strategic Framework

EAST’s 2026-2031 Strategic Framework was developed over the course of several months, beginning with process planning in February 2025. A Board Retreat Planning Group composed of the Program Team and three Board members outlined a series of four virtual board retreats that took place from March to June 2016 and were facilitated by an external consultant.

A key component of the process was a series of activities to engage members and solicit their input. EAST engaged with members in a variety of ways, either before or after each board retreat session.

A full description of the process is available in EAST Strategic Framework 2026-2031 & A Report on the Planning Process.

EAST’s Core Strategy

At the core of EAST is our work to facilitate members’ data-informed decision making about collections. To date, this facilitation has focused on decision-making about existing, or retrospective, collections. As EAST looks to the future, it will investigate ways to support prospective collection activities, such as helping members to identify local subject strengths and weaknesses and to proactively commit to retain items at the time of acquisition.

Without this core strategy, EAST will not succeed in achieving its mission or its vision. The strategic pillars below are built on that foundation.

Strategic Pillars

The EAST Board of Directors has defined four strategic pillars to guide EAST until 2031. The order of these pillars was determined via member input on the objectives assigned to each one, with members finding the objectives assigned primarily to Pillar One most important and so on. As you proceed through the plan, you will find that many of our objectives support multiple strategic pillars, but were assigned to a primary pillar for ease during the member engagement activities.

PILLAR 1: STRENGTHEN member collection building & management strategies

Through engagement with the Board of Directors and member libraries, it is clear that EAST’s top priority is to secure retention commitments beyond 2031 so that members can continue to rely on the EAST collective collection. While work will occur in every area, EAST activities over the next 5 years will center on achieving this objective.

Objectives

1. Secure retention commitments beyond 2031 so that members can continue to rely on the EAST collective collection
   1. Proactively engage members in discussions of the feasibility of extending retention commitments and impacting factors
   2. Develop policies and practices that ensure equitable, distributed holdings
2. Diversify the EAST collective collection to include underrepresented voices in the scholarly record
   1. Provide assistance when EAST members are unable to retain diverse materials

PILLAR 2: ADVOCATE on behalf of members

Member input makes clear that advocating for member libraries in ways that make their participation in shared print as easy as possible is essential. This advocacy is two-fold, addressing both internal and external audiences.

Objectives

1. Make the case for shared print writ large (e.g., integration, activities, national network)
   1. Help members to educate institutional administrators on the importance of maintaining shared print efforts (e.g., Provide talking points on the importance of print library collections)
2. Advocate for open standards and systems interoperability
3. Work with vendors and service providers to advocate for tools and infrastructure that support integration of shared print

PILLAR 3: ENHANCE the ongoing value of membership

The ongoing value of EAST membership is enhanced when the EAST collective collection is enhanced. As part of Pillar 1, EAST will focus on activities that build the value of the EAST collective collection (see above). In addition, value is built through membership growth, sustaining existing membership, and enhancing communication and community.

Objectives

1. Identify and reduce barriers to membership
2. Engage in outreach to institutions serving underrepresented communities
3. Communicate the value of membership to member libraries and their constituencies
4. Consider ways in which EAST may need to evolve to best provide value into the future

PILLAR 4: COLLABORATE to improve preservation and access

As EAST itself illustrates, we achieve more when we collaborate. EAST will continue to build community within EAST and develop external partnerships. EAST will prioritize partnerships in support of improving preservation and access / resource sharing, sharing knowledge, and strengthening the North American shared print network.

Objectives

1. Engage members and facilitate conversations to improve collaboration
2. Develop external partnerships to expand both digital and physical access to resources
3. Work closely with shared print programs nationally and internationally to promote collaboration and advocacy