Molecular glues have historically been discovered serendipitously, while bifunctional strategies have enabled more rational approaches to proximity-based modulation. DNA-encoded library (DEL) technologies provide a unified framework to systematically access both classes of induced-proximity mechanisms. We describe two complementary DEL-enabled strategies: (i) molecular glue screening; an approach that can identify proximity-inducing binders, and (ii) privileged library designs, including precursor libraries, e.g. “imiDELs”, which bias screening toward chemically enriched scaffolds such as imide-containing motifs to access proximity-inducing chemical space.