Library Calls for Contract Transparency | Cornell University Library News (March 2011)

"Cornell University Library will no longer sign contracts with publishers that include confidentiality agreements. These nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) typically forbid libraries from revealing the price and terms of their purchases of licensed resources like journal subscriptions and databases. “Libraries should be able to talk to each other about the details of these contracts. It’s as simple as that,” said Anne R. Kenney, Carl A. Kroch University Librarian. “When contracts are kept secret, institutions cannot negotiate effectively.” NDAs often cover more than price, governing the way content can be used and how it’s accessed. Public institutions’ agreements can be requested through the Freedom of Information Act...."