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MIT Abandons OA Negotiations With Elsevier

Standing by its commitment to provide equitable and open access to scholarship, MIT has ended negotiations with Elsevier for a new journals contract. Elsevier was not able to present a proposal that aligned with the principles of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts. 

Developed by the MIT Libraries in collaboration with the Ad Hoc Task Force on Open Access to MIT’s Research and the Committee on the Library System in October 2019, the MIT Framework is grounded in the conviction that openly sharing research and educational materials is key to the Institute’s mission of advancing knowledge and bringing that knowledge to bear on the world’s greatest challenges. It affirms the overarching principle that control of scholarship and its dissemination should reside with scholars and their institutions, and aims to ensure that scholarly research outputs are openly and equitably available to the broadest possible audience, while also providing valued services to the MIT community. 

‘I am disappointed that we were not able to reach a contract with Elsevier that honors the principles of the MIT Framework, but I am proud knowing that the MIT community—as well as hundreds of colleagues across the country—stand by the importance of these principles for advancing the public good and the progress of science,’ said Chris Bourg, director of the MIT Libraries. ‘In the face of these unprecedented global challenges, equitable and open access to knowledge is more critical than ever.’ …

‘We hope to be able to resume productive negotiations if and when Elsevier is able to provide a contract that reflects our community’s needs and values and advances MIT’s mission,’ said Bourg. ‘In the meantime, we will continue to use the framework to pursue new paths to achieving open access to knowledge.’

For more information, read the press release.