Emory Libraries: Elsevier Journal Review

Why are the Emory Libraries changing our journal subscriptions with Elsevier?

The review of Elsevier journal subscriptions is an important component of our efforts in continually aligning our library collections with the research and teaching needs of Emory.

• We have a “big deal” package with Elsevier, which means we get the journal titles we subscribe to (around 630 titles) and (most) all remaining Elsevier journal titles for an additional fee (known as the "Freedom Collection," around 1,200 titles).  We do not retain archival access to these titles.
• These packages, including Elsevier to which we pay $2.9M each year, have become unsustainable, with significant annual market increases. One challenge of these packages is that there is no market pressure on individual journals, so new titles are continually launched and added to the package.
• These arrangements have crowded out the acquisition of resources that align with existing and evolving research and teaching needs and programs at Emory.
• Growth in open access availability and the federal (Nelson memo) and private funders mandates
• Increased ability to provide quick, efficient access to individual journal articles.

How many journals are in the Elsevier package? To what will we subscribe in 2026? What will be our savings?

• We currently have direct access to 1,882  titles via our journal package with Elsevier.
• We plan to negotiate a more customized collection with approximately 600 accessible titles starting in 2026.
• We are looking to save around 20% of our current spend.

How will I access articles in discontinued Elsevier journals starting January 1, 2026?

The Libraries will continue to offer delivery of articles in unsubscribed/discontinued journals at no cost to you.  Some archival access will be available for core titles, but any titles in the Freedom Collection will only have access to around 1994, so access may be limited. In addition, perpetual access to purchased backfiles for many journals will remain available.

• • Additional ways to access Elsevier articles in discontinued journals include:
• Using Interlibrary Loan (most articles available within 24 hours)
• Searching in Articles+ in Emory Libraries Library Search, which includes most of our full text database and provides access to our expedited delivery service when needed.
• Locating open access copies of articles using free plug-ins like Unpaywall, Google Scholar and PubMed Central
• Reaching out to an author and requesting a copy directly.   

More detailed information can be found on our Alternative Access page.

What is happening to Clinics titles?

We will no longer subscribe directly Clinics titles on ScienceDirect, but these titles will remain accessible via Clinical Key.

Have other libraries taken similar measures?

• A good number of libraries (over 80!) have questioned the utility and sustainability of “big deal” journal packages, such as Elsevier particularly as prices continue to increase, open access content becomes more prevalent, and research and teaching priorities of the university evolve.  
•  UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, University of Washington, University of Chicago, Cornell, and MIT have also chosen to renegotiate their journal packages.  
• Here is a list of other institutions that have reviewed their journal packages and decided to cancel or restructure the package.

How did we decide what titles to retain for our customized collection and which titles to discontinue?

To create the new customized Elsevier journal list, the Libraries used the following process.

• We started with local and publisher supplied usage and cost- per-use metrics, privileging journals with higher use and lower cost per use.
  • Other metrics included:

• Open access availability
• Backfile content availability
• Coverage via other sources to which the Libraries subscribe
• Emory citations and authorship
• Subject librarian and informationist knowledge of departments and scholarship in their respective areas

Finally, we have attempted to balance subject coverage, address the needs of smaller programs, and ensure access to critically needed titles. The initial list of proposed titles to keep accounts for around 85% of total downloads.

Can I provide feedback on the list of titles?

The following feedback form is in place to provide input on our customized list. While advocating for a particular title does not guarantee that it will be maintained, we rely on your feedback to determine the resource needs of our campuses, and your insights will help us make decisions. We seek to negotiate the most efficient and reasonable deal for Emory's customized collection.

How will savings be used?

By unbundling this package, the Libraries will be able to invest in several long-needed resources, including e-book packages in the sciences and social sciences, certain clinical resources, and new resources supporting new university initiatives such as AI.Humanity and new academic programs. We will also be able to use these savings to manage any significant cuts to upcoming library budgets.