British Research Libraries Say No to ‘Big Deal’ Serials Packages

"Late last year, Research Libraries UK announced that its members would not sign any more large deals with two of the biggest journal publishers, Elsevier and Wiley, unless they agreed to significant reductions in what those deals cost....According to [David C. Prosser, executive director of the RLUK], Elsevier and Wiley have both proposed deals with new terms, but neither comes close to satisfying the group’s conditions. “We are having to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we may not be able to reach a deal,” he said....With that prospect in mind, the group has been working to get support from various constituencies within academe, including university administrators as well as faculty members and students....The association would still like to reach deals with Elsevier and Wiley—but only if the terms are right. Otherwise its members are prepared to make do with title-by-title subscriptions. “The types of agreements we’ve entered into are not sustainable in the current environment,” Mr. Prosser said."