SPARC has released a series of profiles of university libraries that have unbundled or cancelled journal packages. As SPARC explains, profiled libraries did this for cost containment and/or aligning budgets with values. It’s wonderful to see UConn as one of the profiles. UConn has done excellent work in ensuring access while controlling costs through unbundling and cancellations. Currently, the profiles available are from:
- Bucknell University (unbundled from Elsevier in 2022)
- Florida State University (unbundled from Elsevier in 2018)
- MIT Libraries (out of contract with Elsevier since 2020)
- UConn Library (unbundling from all big deals on a rolling basis, starting in 2020)
- Université de Montréal (unbundled from multiple deals in 2014 & 2015, resubscribed at a significantly lower price)
SPARC notes that they will add others, and that these complement other work by SPARC. I’m always excited to read and share about excellent work by libraries in support of our mission and our users, like strategic unbundling and cancelling. Reading and sharing this series is a lovely way to start the fall semester.