To contend with overall budgetary changes, Cornell University Library has decided to unbundle some of its “Big Deal” packages as a cost-savings effort and a way to secure sustainable access to online journals for the Cornell community. Currently, the Library is reviewing journal packages with Oxford University Press (OUP) and Elsevier. All Cornell University campuses will be impacted by these changes, including Weill Cornell Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.
Cornell University Library will engage with constituents on the Cornell campuses throughout this process and continue providing the Cornell community access to scholarly resources in a cost-effective manner. For more information on what these changes mean for the Cornell community, please review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Engagement with the Cornell Community
Cornell University Library will host multiple hybrid town halls led by University Librarian Elaine L. Westbrooks. The Sustainable Journal Access Town Halls will include background information on the rising costs of access to these journals, timeline on unbundling, as well as our plans for engagement with campus stakeholders during this process. Additionally, library representatives will meet with various stakeholder groups including Ithaca Campus’ Faculty Senate, Weill Cornell Medical General Faculty Council, and the Graduate Student Assembly.
Scheduled Town Halls
Thursday, October 30, 2025
12:00-1:00 p.m.
160 Mann Library, Ithaca Campus
Zoom, October 30
Wednesday, November 19
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Zoom, November 19
Thursday, November 20, 2025
4:30-5:30 p.m.
132 Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca Campus
Zoom, November 20
Wednesday, December 3
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Uris Auditorium, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City Campus
Zoom, December 3
Oxford University Press
Beginning in January 2026 Cornell University Library will provide access to a smaller, selected set of OUP journals.
Elsevier
Cornell University announced in September 2025 that we plan to unbundle the university’s existing “Big Deal” package with publishing company Elsevier. No changes to Elsevier access are expected before January 2027. Cornell University Library and Weill Cornell Medicine Wood Library will engage with constituents on the Cornell campuses and with Elsevier throughout this process.
Questions
For questions or if you’d like to request a meeting with a library liaison, please email cul-unbundling@cornell.edu.
FAQ
- What is a “Big Deal”?
- Why are we unbundling?
- How are you determining which journals we will keep instant access to?
- Why don’t we know right now what journals we will keep?
- What if I am an editor of a journal that I no longer have instant access to?
- Where can I talk to someone about how this might impact my research?
- What if I want a journal article that I can no longer access immediately?
- How long will it take for me to get access to a journal article through my request?
What is a “Big Deal”?
A “Big Deal” is a contract with a publisher that provides institutions access to a large amount of content from single publishers. These include many highly accessed journals as well as many infrequently accessed journals. “Big Deal” contracts offer list-price savings per journal as compared to individual subscriptions; however, the bundling of many journals, including those that are infrequently used, causes the cost of these contracts to be significant.
Why are we unbundling?
After many years of flat and reduced budgets, it is no longer sustainable for the university to keep many of its “Big Deals”. This effort will help keep our journal access at an affordable rate for the campus. Cornell University Library has unbundled with publishers in the past, including Elsevier and Wiley.
How are you determining which journals we will keep instant access to?
We will be using a combination of cost and usage data as well as consultation and feedback from librarians and the campus.
Why don’t we know right now what journals we will keep?
Many of these agreements with publishing companies use a negotiation process, so while we may have intention of keeping or cancelling a certain journal, we won’t know specifically which journals are impacted until a contract is signed.
What if I am an editor of a journal that I no longer have instant access to?
We cannot guarantee that we will subscribe to any journal at this point, including any for which Cornell faculty serve as editors. There will be mechanisms in place to request journal access.
Where can I talk to someone about how this might impact my research?
If you have concerns, please reach out to cul-unbundling@cornell.edu. If you are looking to set up a consultation or meeting with the Library and your department, please reach out to cul-unbundling@cornell.edu.
What if I want a journal article that I can no longer access immediately?
We are developing a streamlined process for requesting access to journal content to which the Library no longer subscribes. This is a well-trod path with many institutions having unbundled or canceled licenses with publishing companies. We know the systems we will use to provide mediated access; however, we still need to determine many details.
How long will it take for me to get access to a journal article through my request?
We are working on a process to handle these requests; while it is not finalized, we know that we need a nuanced approach to access so that urgent requests can be fulfilled quickly.