The CSU Libraries are due to renew their subscription to Elsevier journals. Elsevier is one of the “Big Five” academic publishers and the collection of journals to which the CSU subscribes and is one of the most expensive and heavily used resources at Fresno State.

In negotiating renewal of our subscription, the CSU Libraries hope to address two major areas of concern:

Cost: Our subscription is a package of many journals, often called a “Big Deal,” which means we pay for a large number of titles, many of which get little or no use. In addition, as with many library resources, the subscription cost has increased by more than the rate of inflation. Elsevier is a highly profitable company, in part because their business model is supported by publicly-funded research and the work of faculty to produce scholarship, provide peer review and manage editorial boards.

Open Access: Many CSU researchers publish in Elsevier journals, and some of them would like their work to be available to everyone rather than hidden behind a paywall. (Fresno State authors have published in over 50 Elsevier journals over the past five years.) Like most commercial publishers, Elsevier charges a fee to authors, ranging from $1,200 to $4,000, to make their work available Open Access. The CSU may be able to negotiate a transformative agreement, which would include Open Access for CSU authors along with our subscription to the journal package.

For more background information, see this FAQ from the CSU Libraries.

Do you have questions or concerns about the Elsevier renewal? Join Fresno State librarians at one of our open forums:

• Noon - 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Library 3212
• Noon - 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in Library 3212

There will be short presentations and plenty of time for questions and discussion.

If you would like to join via Zoom, please contact David Drexler at ddrexler@csufresno.edu.