- About Archives
- About SAA
- Careers
- Education
- Publications
- Advocacy
- Membership
VISION: The Society of American Archivists empowers archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, understanding, and use of records of enduring value.
MISSION: SAA is a vital community that promotes the value and diversity of archives and archivists and serves as the preeminent resource for the profession.
CORE ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:
The Society of American Archivists is committed to:
The following Goals and Strategies represent areas of focus for the next three to five years. The Goals articulate the outcomes that SAA would like to achieve and answer the question, “What will constitute future success?” The Goals are not necessarily identified in priority order, but are numbered to enable easy reference.
GOAL 1: ADVOCATING FOR ARCHIVES AND ARCHIVISTS Society values the vital role of archives and archivists. | GOAL 2: ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH Archivists have access to the professional community and resources they need to be successful and effective in their careers. | GOAL 3: ADVANCING THE FIELD Professional knowledge expands to keep pace with an increasingly diverse archival record. | GOAL 4: MEETING MEMBERS’ NEEDS SAA delivers outstanding service, fosters a culture of inclusiveness and participation, and is proactive and responsive to member needs. |
SAA will 1.1. Provide leadership in promoting the value of archives and archivists to institutions, communities, and society. 1.2. Educate and influence decision makers in any setting about the importance of archives and archivists. 1.3. Provide leadership in ensuring the completeness, diversity, and accessibility of the historical record. 1.4. Strengthen the ability of those who manage and use archival materials to articulate the value of archives. | SAA will 2.1. Mentor and support the career development of members to assist them in achieving their goals. 2.2. Provide content, via education and publications, that reflects the latest thinking and best practices in the field. 2.3. Deliver information and education via methods that are accessible, affordable, and keep pace with technological change. 2.4. Foster communities for professional interaction. | SAA will 3.1. Identify the need for new standards, guidelines, and best practices and lead or participate in their development. 3.2. Foster and disseminate research in and about the field. 3.3. Participate actively in relevant partnerships and collaborations to enhance professional knowledge. 3.4. Support the development of executive leadership skills and encourage the participation in leadership opportunities by archivists in all stages of their careers. | SAA will 4.1. Facilitate effective communication with and among members. 4.2. Create opportunities for members to participate fully in the association. 4.3. Foster an inclusive association and profession through educational and leadership opportunities. 4.4. Ensure that leaders are accessible and that their work is transparent. |
As Approved, April 2022
Updates Approved May 2023
Society of American Archivists
Strategic Plan Actions and Timelines
FY 2023 – FY 2025
Notes:
Goal 1: Advocating for Archives Society values the vital role of archives and archivists. |
1.1. Provide leadership in promoting the value of archives
and archivists to institutions, communities, and society.
FY24-25 |
|
|
Committee on Education / Archival Repatriation
Comm / Diversity Committee / |
FY23-24 |
|
|
COPA / COPP / PR Counsel / Staff2 |
|
|
|
COPA / PR Counsel / Staff3 |
1.2. Educate and influence decision makers in any setting about the importance of archives and archivists.
FY24 |
|
|
|
COPP / Joint Working Group / NCH |
FY22-25 |
|
Operational. |
COPA / COPP / Staff3 |
|
FY23 |
|
In progress. |
CORDA / Staff3/Sections/Committees |
|
FY24 |
|
|
COPP / Joint Working Group / NCH |
|
FY25 |
|
|
COPP / COPA / CORDA / Arch Mgmt Section / Staff3 |
|
|
|
|
Staff3 / COPP / JWG on Advocacy |
|
FY24-25 |
|
|
COPA / Staff |
1.3. Provide leadership in ensuring the completeness, diversity, and
accessibility of the historical record.
FY23-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
NAAS / Publications Board / Staff3 |
FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
NAAS (SAAF Grant) / Comm on Education / A&D Section / Staff3 |
FY24 |
|
In progress. |
IPWG / Arch Repatriation Comm |
FY25 |
|
Ongoing. |
TS-AFG / Publications Board / Staff2 |
1.4. Strengthen the ability of those who manage and use archival
material to articulate the value of archives.
FY24 |
|
In progress. |
COPP / Joint Working Group / Staff3 |
FY23-25 |
|
In progress. |
CORDA / COPP / COPA / Staff3 |
FY23-25 |
|
|
Council, COPA, RAO Section |
Goal 2: Enhancing Professional Growth Archivists have access to the professional community and resources they need to be successful and effective in their careers. |
2.1. Mentor and support the career development of members to
assist them in achieving their goals.
FY23-FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Committee on Education / Arch Mgmt Section / Staff1 |
FY23-FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Committee on Education / Staff1 |
FY23 |
|
Ongoing. |
Membership Committee / Staff3 |
FY23 |
|
Ongoing. |
CORDA / Comm Education / Staff3 |
FY23 |
|
|
TBD, Arch Mgmt Section
|
FY23-25 |
|
|
Task Force on Memb Pathways, Membership Comm, Diversity Comm, Sections (A&D, DSGS, AAC) |
FY24-25 |
|
|
Task Force on Memb Pathways, Membership Comm + Archival Educators, Council, Diversity Comm, GAE Subcomm, RAAC |
2.2. Provide content via education and publications that reflects the latest
thinking and best practices in the field.
FY22-23 |
|
Ongoing. |
Publications Board / Staff2 |
FY23-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Committee on Education - DAS Subcomm / Staff1 |
FY25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Publications Board / Staff1 |
FY24 |
|
In progress. |
Committee on Education - DAS Subcomm / Staff2 |
FY25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Publications Board / Staff1 |
FY23-24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Editorial Board / Publications Board / Dictionary WG / CEPC / Staff3 |
FY23 -24 |
|
|
Comm Education, Diversity Comm, Labor Archives Section |
FY23-24 |
|
|
Standards Comm, Education, Publications, AA Board, CEPC, AAA Section, Archives Mgmt Section, RAO Section |
FY25 |
|
|
Committee on Education / Staff1 |
2.3. Deliver information and education via methods that are accessible, affordable, and keep pace with technological change.
FY23-24 |
|
In progress. |
Editorial Board / Staff2 |
FY23-24 |
|
|
A&D Section, Diversity Comm, Comm Education, Publications, Staff |
FY25 |
|
Not done (COVID). |
Education Staff |
FY25 |
|
[COVID] |
Education Staff3 |
FY25 |
|
[COVID] |
Education Staff1 |
FY24-25 |
|
Operational |
[Operational – staff] Council, Comm Education, RAAC, Membership Comm, SNAP Section, Program and Host Comms, |
2.4. Foster communities for professional interaction.
FY23 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council / Component Group Leaders / Staff3 |
FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council / Component Group Leaders / Staff3 |
FY25 |
|
|
Council, Diveristy Comm, RAO Section, Archives Mgmt Section, Women Arch Section |
FY23-25 |
|
|
Diversity Comm, LACCHA, NAAS, RAO Section, AAC Section, |
Goal 3: Advancing the Field Professional knowledge expands to keep pace with an increasingly diverse archival record. |
3.1. Identify the need for new standards, guidelines, and
best practices and lead or participate in their development.
FY24 |
|
In progress. |
Standards Committee |
FY25 |
|
In progress. |
Standards Committee |
|
|
Ongoing. |
A&D Section, Diversity Comm, CoE, Publications, Staff |
FY24 |
|
|
CoE, Diversity Comm, Membership Comm, (many sections), Staff |
FY24 |
|
|
Diversity Comm, Standards Comm, Description Section, RAO Section |
FY25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Standards Comm, Publications, AA Board, CEPC, AAA Section, Archives Mgmt Section, RAO Section, Labor Arch Section, NAAS |
FY23 |
|
|
Diversity Comm, Standards, RAO Section |
FY23-25 |
|
|
Diversity Comm, Standards Comm, Description Section |
FY23-25 |
|
|
Diversity Comm, Standards Comm, Collection Mgmt Section, AAA Section |
3.2. Foster and disseminate research in and about the field.
FY22 |
|
Complete. |
A*CENSUS II Working Group / Ithaka S+R / Staff1 |
FY23 |
|
In progress. |
CORDA |
FY23 |
|
In progress. |
CORDA / Council |
FY23 |
|
Ongoing. |
CORDA / Research Forum Organizers / Staff3 |
FY22 |
|
Complete. |
A*CENSUS II Working Group / Ithaka / Staff1 |
FY23 |
|
Ongoing. |
CORDA / Staff3 |
FY23 |
|
Complete |
A*CENSUS II Working Group / Ithaka S+R / CORDA / Staff1 |
FY25-26 |
|
|
Council, Staff, CORDA, A*CENSUS II WG |
FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
CORDA / Staff3 |
3.3. Participate actively in relevant partnerships and collaborations to
enhance professional knowledge.
FY22-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council / Executive Director / Staff3 |
FY22-25 |
|
|
Council, GAE Subcomm, Arch Educators Section |
FY22-25 |
|
In progress. |
Diversity Comm, LACCHA, NAAS, RAO Section, AAC Section, |
3.4. Support development of executive leadership skills and encourage participation in leadership opportunities by archivists at all stages of their careers.
|
|
Ongoing. |
Staff |
FY22-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council / Section Leaders |
FY22-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council / Staff2 |
FY23 |
|
|
Council / Task Force on Memb Pathways / Staff |
FY24-25 |
|
|
Council / Membership Comm / Staff |
Goal 4: Meeting Members’ Needs SAA delivers outstanding service, fosters a culture of inclusiveness and participation, and is proactive and responsive to members’ needs. |
4.1. Facilitate effective communication with and among
members.
FY23-24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Membership Committee / Allied Orgs / Staff2 |
FY25 |
|
|
Council, Membership Comm, Diversity Comm, RAO Section, Archives Mgmt Section |
4.2. Create opportunities for members to participate fully in the association.
FY22-23 |
|
Ongoing / upcoming. |
Council / Consultant / All Component Groups / Staff1 |
FY23-25 |
|
|
Membership Committee / Staff2 |
4.3. Foster an inclusive association and profession through educational and leadership opportunities.
FY22-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Committee on Education / Staff |
FY22-25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Committee on Education / Staff |
FY24 |
|
|
Council, Staff, Comm Education, Diversity Comm, A&D Section, DSGS |
FY24 |
|
Ongoing. |
Comm Education / Diversity Comm / Staff2 |
FY25 |
|
|
Council, Staff, Diversity Comm, A*CENSUS Working Group, and Partner Organizations |
4.4. Ensure that leaders are accessible and that their work is transparent.
FY24 |
|
|
Council, Staff (Executive Director), Diversity Comm, Nominating Comm, Appointments Comm |
FY25 |
|
Ongoing. |
Council, Staff (Exec Director), Membership Comm |
FY24 |
|
|
Council, Staff (Exec Director) |
Also available as a printable PDF.