Elsevier ScienceDirect Journal Renewal Offers OA Publishing Options for WSU Researchers

As part of WSU Libraries’ renewal of their Elsevier ScienceDirect journal contract, WSU authors can now publish their research articles in 1,813 hybrid Elsevier journals using an open access (OA) license without individually paying an article processing charge (APC). The WSU Office of Research provided additional support for the agreement, which extends to 2029.

“I am pleased to have the Office of Research partner with the libraries to reduce barriers for faculty to publish open access in high-impact journals,” said Vice President for Research Kim Christen. “Making our research accessible is a key component of our research enterprise and ensures that WSU research has a wide reach and impact.”

To cover publication costs, Elsevier OA journals typically charge the price an author, institution, or funder pays on an OA article’s acceptance for publication—or an APC.

Based on WSU’s past publishing patterns, if all WSU authors paid APCs for each article expected to be published in these journals next year, it would have cost an estimated $564,000.

Through this renewal, WSU will continue to have expansive access to Elsevier ScienceDirect journals, and WSU authors can publish under an OA license.

“The Elsevier ScienceDirect journal platform receives more article downloads by WSU students and faculty than any other journal platform,” said WSU Libraries’ Head of Collection Development Joel Cummings. “WSU researchers also publish more articles in Elsevier journals than any other individual publisher. While an increasing proportion of Elsevier articles are published open access, the majority are still published behind a paywall.”

Additionally, this service assists WSU researchers in meeting funder mandates that may require their research be published with open access. Researchers will not have to use their own grants or other funds to publish their work under the OA license.

Price increases are lower than in previous agreements with Elsevier, even with OA publishing privileges, and price inflation under the new contract is below the average serial price increases that academic libraries face.

The OA publishing agreement is intended to promote the work of WSU researchers by making it accessible for free to everyone around the world with an internet connection. In general, studies show that OA research tends to increase citation impact.

WSU Libraries haven’t established many OA publishing agreements to date; current agreements are described in an online library guide. To learn more about the Elsevier contract renewal, please contact Joel Cummings.