On October 2023, 10, Elsevier, an academic publisher based in the Netherlands, announced an agreement with the University Library Consortium to promote open access to academic articles.Fifty-seven universities, including Kyoto University and Waseda University, members of the Federation of University Libraries, negotiated with Elsevier to gradually shift the academic journal subscription fees paid by university libraries to article publication fees paid by researchers.
According to the Federation of University Library Consortiums, the transition period will be three years starting in 2024.Based on this agreement, each university in Japan will enter into individual contracts with Elsevier.Approximately 3 schools in Japan, including the 57 schools that participated in the negotiations, have expressed interest in the conversion agreement.The result of the negotiations is to reduce the burden on universities and researchers by combining subscription and open access publishing, with the aim of switching to a publishing method that meets the needs of universities.
Sawako Kochin, chair of the University Library Consortium Union Steering Committee and director of the Osaka University Library Division, said, ``Various considerations and adjustments are required before each university concludes a contract, but putting the agreements into practice will help promote open access.'' I want to work on it," he said.
Elsevier engages in academic publishing and information analysis, publishing more than 2,800 e-journals such as ``Cell'' and ``The Lancet,'' and more than 4 e-books.
