Library Out Loud

Full access to ScienceDirect ejournals will cease at the end of 2025.

This follows extensive efforts to secure sustainable and equitable access to scholarly content on behalf of the Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL) consortia. Elsevier’s pricing expectations significantly exceeded those of other publishers and CAUL’s threshold for fair value. Massey University will not be negotiating a separate agreement with Elsevier. 

Will I still be able to access Elsevier published articles after 2025? 
Yes, but access will be reduced from the current full package of journals. Massey University retains access to over 450 journals (pre-2026) through post-termination rights. For both older and newer content published from 2026 onwards, access will be supported, peer to peer sharing is permitted (the author may share their article with colleagues) and tools such as LibKey Nomad are being purchased to improve access to content available elsewhere. In addition, over 30% of Elsevier articles are already Open Access. 

Can I still publish with Elsevier? 
Yes. You may continue to publish with Elsevier. However, open access publishing via the CAUL Read & Publish agreement will no longer be available. You can deposit your Author Accepted Manuscript in Pātaka Rangahau Massey Research Online to meet funder requirements. You are encouraged to consider alternative publishers with CAUL Read & Publish agreements. 

What is the Library’s advice on Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Elsevier journals? 
The Library advises against using university funds for hybrid APCs—these are payments made to subscription journals to make individual articles Open Access. Consider Pātaka Rangahau Massey Research Online instead. Funding for APCs to publish in 100% Open Access journals is a decision for an individual, school, or College. 

Will my teaching materials be affected? 
eReserve reading lists are being checked for any Elsevier journals which we will no longer have access to. It is possible that an alternative source will be needed if the journal is no longer available, but the numbers of impacted journals is very small. 

What support is the Library providing? 
The Library has prepared contingency plans for post termination access and interlibrary loan, will offer clear guidance on reading and publishing options, provide regular updates, and support access to content and publishing alternatives. 

I am an undergraduate student; will this impact on my study? 
No. The Library has thousands of ejournals which should meet your needs. You will still have access to a smaller range of key Elsevier published journals up to the end of 2025. In addition, over 30% of Elsevier articles are already Open Access. 

What can I do to stay informed and prepared? 
Follow Library updates, contact the Library for help with publishing or accessing content, and consider open access alternatives where possible. Contact Library@massey.ac.nz or your Subject Librarian.