On Clarivate’s Recent Announcement

Clarivate’s recent announcement has sparked significant concern among librarians and information professionals. The proposed changes could restrict libraries from securing perpetual access to print books and ebooks, forcing institutions into ongoing subscription-based agreements. This approach, which prioritises profit over preservation, raises serious concerns—not only about its financial impact on already strained library budgets but also about its implications for equity and access to knowledge. 

Our OLH colleague, Siobhan Haimé (Publishing Technologies Librarian at OLH / Birkbeck, University of London), has written an incisive summary analysing these developments and their broader implications. Beyond the immediate concerns around sustainability and access, she highlights a deeper issue—how this shift underscores the urgent need for greater bibliodiversity in library collections. As she explains: 

(…) this development further emphasises the need to increase bibliodiversity in the market and our collections. Actions such as investing in open monographs and open educational resources (and open more generally), as well as titles from smaller presses, can foster a more diverse and resilient information ecosystem. Especially if the big five acquiesce to this new strategy and have their content licenced through these subscriptions. 

As libraries face increasing pressure from large commercial publishers moving toward restrictive licensing models, diversifying collections by supporting open access initiatives and smaller, not-for-profit publishers becomes more crucial than ever. Siobhan concludes: 

This strategy may prove to be transformative if we take this as an opportunity to radically explore alternative models to protect equitable access. Our response to these changes may shape the future of academic library collections for years to come – and hopefully for the better. 

You can read Siobhan Haimé’s full response here: 🔗 A Librarian’s Summary of and Response to the Clarivate Announcement 

Further commentary has been offered by Kevin O’Donovan in an LSE blog: 🔗 As ProQuest exits the print book market, will we see a new era of big deals for ebooks? 

Following widespread criticism, Clarivate has also issued a response to their announcement. You can read their statement here: 🔗 Clarivate’s Letter to the Library Community