Northwestern signs new contract with Elsevier

Northwestern University has signed a new contract with Elsevier, a leading academic publisher. The new contract lowers costs and gives Northwestern Libraries significantly more control over subscription spending.

The previous contract was considered a “big deal” journal subscription bundle, meaning we received access to a large volume of packaged titles. The new contract “unbundles” our package and gives us more direct control over our subscription selections and the ability to keep them closely aligned with the needs of the Northwestern community. The new Elsevier contract includes nearly 400 journals across disciplines, including titles such as Cell, Chem, and The Lancet.

“The library provides access to resources across disciplines. This approach reflects our commitment to empowering Northwestern scholars, providing the resources that matter most, reducing barriers, and ensuring that faculty and students have what they need to thrive” said Xuemao Wang, Northwestern’s Dean of Libraries.

For many Elsevier journals included in our previous subscription, there will be no change in access. For some titles previously included, Northwestern researchers can use rapid article delivery service to get expedited access to articles. For other titles, researchers can request access via Interlibrary Loan. Visit our “Instant Access to Articles” guide to learn more about requesting expedited access to articles. 

Questions about the change in access can be directed to Elsa Álvaro, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Access, at elsa.alvaro@northwestern.edu.