What makes an organization sustainable?

This year, JSTOR will celebrate its tenth anniversary as an independent not-for-profit organization. That makes us rather young compared with most of the universities and scholarly publications we serve. But reaching this first decade milestone is a significant accomplishment and is a good moment to reflect on the elements of sustainability.

I have followed with interest the recent listserv debates about open access publishing. Contributors often assert that an opposing business model is not sustainable, as if sustainability hinges on a business model. As important as it is to have a feasible plan for paying the bills, most of us realize that organizations often survive or fail on factors other than the particular business model they have chosen. Organizations thrive when they have a vital reason to exist, talented staff devoted to executing that mission, and a wide community of supporters. Sustainability over time, particularly in fluid environments such as ours, also requires flexibility, creativity, and determination.

JSTOR has been extremely fortunate in having strong support from the academic community, wise Trustees, and dedicated staff. We are cognizant that this support must be earned daily, and we do not take our sustainability for granted. Now that we have reached ten, it is important to focus not only on the next ten, but on the next 100 years. In the long run, our primary responsibility goes beyond organizational sustainability. We must ensure that stewardship of the content we hold can continue even in the extreme event that we are not here to do it ourselves.

Your continued support is, of course, appreciated; and your thoughts on how we can best maintain and improve our service to the community are always highly valued.

Michael P. Spinella

Last updated on September 8, 2006