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Elsevier
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Building open access sustainability with transformative agreements

Library-driven impact

Three people standing around a table looking at a piece of paper

Transforming together: The impact of collaborative open access agreements

At Elsevier, open access is a core element of our commitment to collaborative, inclusive and transparent research. Crucially, it’s also one way we partner with institutions to help them achieve their strategic goals.

We work closely with library leaders around the globe to understand the wide range of open access needs. To support these needs, we co-develop transformative agreements with librarians and their institutions or consortia. In this series of case studies, we hear from three of those collaborators – our sincere thanks to Carnegie Mellon University’s Dean of University Libraries Keith Webster, Tulane University’s Associate Dean of Libraries Dr Andy Corrigan, and former Board member of the Council of Australian University Librarians, Bob Gerrity, for so generously sharing their experiences with us. 

Their success stories demonstrate the critical role the library can play in facilitating and enriching research at their institutions. With a transformative agreement, the library stewards cross-campus collaboration, supports internal stakeholders, develops workflows that aid researchers, and delivers on rapidly expands open access. The libraries are playing a more integral role in their institution’s research ecosystem and supporting sustainable growth of open access.  Finally, their experiences highlight that whenever a potential roadblock looms, by working together we can resolve it. 

We hope you enjoy reading these cases studies. 

“Transformative agreements are really moving the dial on open access.”

Bob Gerrity

BG

Bob Gerrity

CAUL

Case studies

Preparing for a transformative agreement: Library leaders share their experience

The transformative agreement process starts with the library determining its main goals. Understanding the objectives from the beginning sets the agreement up for success when it comes to evaluation. Once established, the library will need to initiate conversations with its stakeholders, usually the faculty and researchers as well as the administrators of the institution or consortium.

Three library leaders provide their practical insights into setting these goals and beginning discussions on campus.

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Securing and implementing a transformative agreement: Perspectives from library leaders

Once discussions are under way, the library can work with the publisher to determine the best way to achieve their goals. Each institution/consortium is unique, so it’s important to consider the institution’s historical publishing rate, or any special situations that will require additional attention.

After working out the finer points, get ready to implement the agreement! Decisions will need to be made on internal workflows as well as educating campus stakeholders – library leaders will provide their recommendations.

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Partnering for an open future: Sharing successes and lessons learned

With the transformative agreement into action, it’s time to evaluate the benefits. Library leaders suggest looking at the original goals and determining success criteria. In many cases, transformative agreements can develop stronger inter-institutional relationships and bolster the library’s role in supporting research efforts.

Most importantly, it is recommended to focus on building open access in a sustainable manner and demonstrating the agreement’s value to your institution.

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Three people sitting around a table in conversation.

“The results of our agreements have attracted a lot of recognition from the Office of the Provost.”

Andy Corrigan

AC

Andy Corrigan

Tulane University

Essential insights article

Transformative agreements are on the rise – we spoke with institutions to find out why

Explore the core findings from all three case studies wrapped into a Library Connect article. This essential summary pulls out primary themes providing you an overview at-a-glance.

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“Looking back on the implementation process, it was all very easy. It took a few months, because we were responding to each other’s suggestions and requests, but it was very productive and positive.” 

Keith Webster

KW

Keith Webster

Carnegie Mellon University

Interviewees

Andy Corrigan, Associate Dean of Libraries at Tulane University, USA. A four-year transformative agreement his university signed with Elsevier in 2022 was the first of five now in place with publishers.  

Andy Corrigan

Bob Gerrity, former Program Director of the Procurement Program for CAUL (Council of Australian University Librarians) and University Librarian at Monash University, Australia. CAUL signed a three-year transformative agreement with Elsevier in 2022 — the largest of its kind in the Australasian region — bringing the total number of CAUL’s transformative deals to 24.  

Bob Gerrity

Keith Webster, Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon University, USA. In 2019, the university signed its first transformative agreement with a publisher: a four-year deal with Elsevier. It was also the first deal of its kind between Elsevier and a US university. Today, CMU has agreements in place with an additional five major publishers.