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MIT stopped subscribing to Elsevier journals, instead ordering materials as needed. It saved millions. (sparcopen.org)

submitted 4 weeks ago by fpslem@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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MIT leaders describe the experience of not renewing its largest journal contract as overwhelmingly positive. MIT has long tried to avoid vendor lock-in through big deal contracts and, in 2019, maintained individual title-by-title subscriptions to approximately 675 Elsevier titles. In 2020, they took the significant step of canceling the full Elsevier journals contract – all 675 titles – leaving users with immediate access to only pre-2020 backfile content. Since the cancellation, MIT Libraries estimates annual savings at more than 80% of its original spend. This move saves MIT approximately $2 million each year, and the Libraries provide alternative means of access that fulfills most article requests in minutes.

After laying the groundwork with faculty and university administrators, the transition has been relatively seamless with minimal push back from researchers. Most faculty have been supportive of the Libraries in taking a principled stand in line with MIT values and are finding alternative means of access to needed research without an Elsevier subscription. Four years out, the faculty who continue to be most challenged by lack of immediate access are in the life sciences.

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[-] frazw@lemmy.world 112 points 4 weeks ago

I always found the journal model to be one of the best scams there is. Buy our journal. Written by you. Edited by you. Referreed by you. Based on research paid for with public money. The journal contribution is to sell the paper back to the people who provide their content.

[-] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 70 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Plus you pay them to publish, not the other way around.

They charge for literally every step in the process, even the ones where in other systems you'd be the one charging them.

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 11 points 4 weeks ago

Anyone who reviews for Elsevier is part of the problem.

[-] slaacaa@lemmy.world 9 points 4 weeks ago

The reddit business model

[-] KingGordon@lemmy.world 65 points 4 weeks ago

Just here to say fuck Elsevier. Standing in the way of progress.

[-] dafo@lemmy.world 20 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Definitely fuck them. The largest pro-privacy, entity really, ISP in Sweden had them sued for copyright trolling. I believe that Elsevier in response blocked any Bahnhof-customers. Bahnhof blocked Elsevier traffic with this tenner: http://elsevier.bahnhof.se/.

This was a big deal when working there because Bahnhof had a track record of not honoring requests to give out personal info or blocking any sites. The CEO also secretly recorded the FRA, our equivalent to the NSA, as they were trying to make a deal under the table to be able to spy on customers. There's even a video recreation (the server he's holding used to host Wikileaks)!

For more info about the Elsevier stuff: [https://bahnhof.se/2018/11/02/senaste-nytt-bahnhof-blockerar-internet/](here's an official big post in Swedish).

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 15 points 4 weeks ago

Fuck MIT.

Remember that they sued Aaron Schwarts into a suicide. Disgusting parasites grifting off taxpayers.

Never forget who these people are once they show you their face.

[-] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 8 points 4 weeks ago

Who are "these people"? Like... Really who are you taking about? The directors? Teachers? Janitors? Lol

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 14 points 4 weeks ago

https://corporation.mit.edu/

But more practically executive team and general counsel.

Why would I shit on peasants slaving for the regime?

WTF is your angle here anyway? Poor adjuct didn't do nuffin mate? Parasites are in the clear because they got jobs from helpless plebs?

[-] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 weeks ago

... peasants slaving for the regime?

Ok. Just gonna carry on with my day, I thought this was gonna be a normal conversation. Lol

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org -3 points 4 weeks ago

You got a lot to learn...

[-] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 weeks ago

Not from you. Lol

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org -1 points 4 weeks ago

Don't worry the regime is here to break everybody in 👍

[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 57 points 4 weeks ago

fun fact: the academic publishing business model was invented by robert maxwell. you've probably heard the name maxwell before, due to his daughter, ghislaine

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 weeks ago

I've heard of the name Maxwell because of the coffee...

[-] IntheTreetop@lemm.ee 4 points 4 weeks ago

Blank tapes?

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 weeks ago

That was Maxell!

[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 weeks ago

good to the last drop my subscription

[-] Chickenstalker@lemmy.world 23 points 4 weeks ago

Pirate all academic articles. Heck, simply email the authors for a pdf. 99% will gladly do it.

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 23 points 4 weeks ago

I'm sure all the MIT lecturers are making sure to only use opensource textbooks and totally not requiring students to purchase the professor's own authored textbook, latest edition only, right? That would be in keeping with MIT's principles, certainly.

[-] Krazore@lemmy.world 29 points 4 weeks ago

I mean you say that, but I went to a similar school in the US and the professor had his own book. It was cheaper than the old textbook and to top it off he "warned us" not to go to a certain site and download the PDF version. Some professors care and it's more about the administration than their own opinions.

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 9 points 4 weeks ago

I don't know about only, but: https://ocw.mit.edu/

[-] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 4 weeks ago

Poor academics got to eat too!

[-] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 23 points 4 weeks ago

I wonder whether this is because the subscription method was overpriced compared to the number of articles they actually accessed or if academics are now just thinking twice about whether they really need to access a particular article if it's not easy and "free". I've certainly downloaded articles I never actually got around to reading.

It's still wild that universities don't just en masse refuse to use the for-profit journals. They services they provide could easily be managed and funded by a university consortium. They just need to actually make the leap.

[-] Kethal@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago

I doubt it accounts for much, but a lot of authors pay up front now for open access. If the majority of authors did that, then subscriptions wouldn't make sense for most people. I don't think it's anywhere near the majority of publications now though.