The landscape of UK higher education has recently shifted, with news that terms have been agreed with five major academic publishers via Jisc negotiations. While some might be tempted to view this as a “done deal,” another perspective would describe it as a pragmatic reflection from the sector that further negotiation on terms is simply no longer possible.
The harsh reality is that, given the severe financial challenges facing the sector, many of these agreements will remain fundamentally unaffordable for many institutions. This isn’t just a budgetary squeeze, it is a cliff edge. Difficult decisions regarding the deployment of available funds will need to be made with extreme speed, likely resulting in several institutions withdrawing from at least one major deal. At the University of York, our experience of withdrawing from seven Read and Publish (R&P) agreements as of the beginning of 2025 has shown that there is currently no roadmap or sufficient systemic help for exiting these Big Deals.
To that end, here are 5 key considerations to help navigate the complexities of an R&P exit. These are not exhaustive, nor are they universal, this is simply one University Acquisitions Librarian’s interpretation of a complex and stressful situation, with some practical tips in the hopes that others in a similar situation may find it helpful.
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