Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University Libraries at Virginia Tech Joins Virginia Research Libraries in Endorsing MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts

  • 11/04/19

BLACKSBURG, VA – University Libraries at Virginia Tech has joined its fellow Virginia research libraries at University of Virginia, James Madison University, George Mason University, College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Old Dominion University, in endorsing MIT's framework for publisher contracts.

As this Virginia Research Libraries (VRL) consortium moves toward 2021 contract negotiations with Elsevier, the largest STEM academic publisher, VRL will work as a team to be mindful stewards of state funds and ensure research is publicly available to advance knowledge for the benefit of our global society.

Over the past 30 years, the cost of journal subscriptions has increased 500 percent, far outpacing libraries’ annual budget increases.

Much of the research conducted at public universities and published in expensive subscription-based scholarly journals is funded by tax dollars—in the form of faculty salaries and federally funded grants. Research is produced for the public good, but it is not always available to the general public who paid for it. This is where open access or public access to research will change the traditional landscape of publishing research.

In 2021, representatives from University Libraries at Virginia Tech, along with its VRL consortium colleagues, will be at the negotiating table with Elsevier. The universities will be discussing the unsustainable cost of accessing its academic journals and options to make Virginia universities’ research more accessible to the public that paid for it.

During the fall and spring semesters, University Libraries Dean Tyler Walters is meeting with faculty groups across campus to discuss these issues and gather feedback.

For more information surrounding this issue and Virginia's public research libraries’ move toward negotiations, visit the University Libraries’ Access Matters webpage.

Featured

  • Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Minnesota District Starts Construction on Early Childhood Learning Center

    Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools in Sauk Rapids, Minn., recently announced that construction has begun on a new early childhood learning center and a new outdoor activities complex, according to a news release.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.