SEEMP's structure and priorities are governed and determined by its members.  SEEMP's Bylaws can be revised by the SEEMP membership.  The members of SEEMP also elect the SEEMP Executive Committee and set organizational priorities for new projects and acquisitions of material related to Slavic and East European studies.  SEEMP meets in person once a year, in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the Association for Slavic, East European & Eurasian Studies.

Institutions and nonprofit organizations that maintain a library and whose interests coincide with SEEMP are welcome to Join SEEMP.

SEEMP was founded in 1995 by North American librarians that specialized in Slavic and East European materials.  An article about SEEMP's History describes the work of SEEMP over the last two decades.