The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) has published a strategic framework for 2027-2030 that marks the beginning of a collaborative planning process. Based on extensive member input gathered throughout 2025, the framework will guide CRL's work as members help develop specific initiatives over the coming months.
The Strategic Directions Framework, available here, synthesizes input from strategy forums at CRL's annual meeting, site visits and listening sessions with approximately 50 member libraries, and a survey that reached 248 respondents—more than half of CRL's institutional membership and double the previous response rate.
"Members have been clear about what they need from CRL: thoughtful coordination of collections and content, a stronger position in a challenging information marketplace, clearer alignment among services, and practical ways to work together across roles and institutions," said Jacob Nadal, President of CRL. "This framework reflects those priorities."
Four Strategic Focus Areas
The framework identifies four interconnected priorities for CRL's work through 2030:
- Increasing Resilience – pooling leverage, insight, and infrastructure to counter resource strains through shared services, market intelligence, and coordinated action with members and across consortia.
- Coordinating Collections and Content – strengthening CRL's role as a steward of global research materials and broker in the information marketplace, improving discovery and use of content, and advancing shared print as a collections and access architecture.
- Unifying Services and Stewardship – integrating long-term preservation commitments with services that deliver present-tense value, ensuring collections and services reinforce one another and remain sustainable.
- Taking Practical Action Together – expanding opportunities for library staff to build skills, connect with peers, and deliver results through clearer structures for participation.
The framework is paired with a strategic mindset that outlines how CRL will evaluate potential initiatives. The mindset focuses on delivering persistent value by growing and shaping the shared scholarly record, and measurable annual value through services that help members use resources, improve conditions in the sector, engage with peers, and save time or money.
Developing Initiatives Through Early 2026
CRL will now collaborate with members to develop time-bound initiatives that translate the framework into concrete activities. Those initiatives will form the strategic plan for FY2027–2030 and will be presented alongside the FY2027 budget at the 2026 Annual Business Meeting.
The first strategic planning town hall will take place on December 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM Central Time (Noon Pacific, 1pm Mountain, 3pm Eastern). Additional town halls and member discussions will follow in early 2026.
Members can register for the December 16 town hall at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0HVsoni7QFyqrmkuNA4BHg
"I'd be glad to meet with you or your teams, on Zoom or in person, to walk through the framework, talk about what it means for your institution, and hear your reactions," Nadal added.
CRL encourages participation from library leaders, staff, and specialists across member institutions to ensure the planning process reflects the full range of needs and expertise within the consortium. The completed strategic plan will provide members with a clear view of how collective investments translate into concrete action and measurable progress.