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George Mason University Infoguides | University Libraries
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Scholarly Resources: Acquisitions & Cancellations

Overview of the Libraries' collections with updates and cancellation lists.

General faculty input form: How do you use our collections?

As we update our collections strategy to align with new budget realities, we want to hear from you!

Let us know how you're using the Libraries' print and online collections in your research, teaching, and service:

See the other tabs on this guide for information about FY24 and FY25 budget reductions and for resource cancellation lists.

Elsevier journals: Request for comments

In 2021, the Libraries cancelled its subscription to its comprehensive Elsevier journal package. We now maintain 218 individual journal subscriptions at an annual cost of over $600,000. As Elsevier journals are still our largest collections expenditure, we are currently exploring options for further reducing our Elsevier journal subscription costs.

Please complete this form by June 30 to help us understand the impact of past and potential future Elsevier journal cancellations on your work. We also want to hear about how well our article delivery services meet your needs.

The main questions in the form are: 

  • How did the January 2021 Elsevier cancellations impact your research and teaching?
  • How do you use our remaining 218 Elsevier journal subscriptions (see list)? Are any of these journals particularly significant for your work?
  • If the Libraries cancel any Elsevier journals in January 2025, we would retain access to pre-2025 articles. Articles published in or after January 2025 would be available via Interlibrary Loan (2 hours to overnight) or Article Express (near instant delivery). Please share any comments about how well Interlibrary Loan and Article Express would meet your needs.
     

Feedback forms for similar & overlapping resources

The Libraries are reviewing groups of similar and/or overlapping online resources to identify potential cancellations. There are eight groups of resources, with each group presented in a separate box below. Each box contains a feedback form, along with summaries of recent cost and usage levels, and links to the resources. Here's what to expect on the feedback forms:

Page 1 -- 5 quick questions about you.

  • Name
  • Email
  • Role at Mason (response required)
  • College/School affiliation (response required)
  • Department/program

Page 2 -- How you use the resources in question.

  • Multiple choice
    • Which of these resources do you use in your teaching?
    • Which of these resources do you use in your research?
  •  Open-ended (actual question phrasing varies to reflect specific circumstances)
    • Please tell us how you use these resources. Which specific functionalities or content do you use? How do you or your students use these databases in specific projects or assignments?
    • If the Libraries were to cancel any of these subscriptions, how would the cancellation(s) impact your research and teaching?
    • Please share any other questions and comments about these resources or our collections in general.

Chemistry Resources (SciFinder and Reaxys)

The Libraries currently subscribe to both SciFinder N and Reaxys, two chemistry databases. Due to substantial overlap in content and functionality, we are considering retaining just one of these resources. 

If you use either of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

 

Data/statistics

The Libraries currently subscribe to numerous databases containing statistics and datasets. We are reviewing these databases for overlap in content and functionality, and have identified one with low usage: ProQuest Statistical Insight. We are exploring the possibility of cancelling or restructuring this subscription.

If you use ProQuest Statistical Insight in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

Engineering

The Libraries currently subscribe to Compendex and Inspec, two engineering databases. Due to overlap in content and functionality, we are considering retaining just one of these resources. 

If you use either of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

Linguistics

The Libraries currently subscribes to Linguistics Abstracts and also provides access to Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA) via VIVA, Virginia's academic library consortium. Due substantial overlap in content and functionality, we are reviewing our subscription to Linguistics Abstracts. 

If you use either of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

Market, Industry, and Company Information

The Libraries subscribe to numerous databases for industry, market, and company research. We are therefore considering cancelling or restructuring up to three of these subscriptions. The three databases currently under review are listed below.

If you use any of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason Office365 environment).

 

Note: Our other Mergent databases are NOT under review. Mergent Online is a VIVA-wide subscription and is not a cancellation candidate. View a complete list of our current Mergent databases here.

Philosophy

The Libraries currently subscribe to Philosopher's Index. We also have access to the ProQuest Religion & Philosophy Collection via VIVA, Virginia's academic library consortium. Due to substantial overlap in content and functionality, we are reviewing our subscription to Philosopher's Index. 

If you use either of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

Public Policy

The Libraries susbcribe to several databases of policy literature (scholarly and grey literature), including CIAO, PAIS, and Policy File. We also have a newer resource called Policy Commons. Due to overlap in content and functionality, we are considering cancelling or restructuring one or more of the subscriptions. 

If you use any of these databases in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).

Reference (encyclopedias & directories)

The Libraries have identified several online encyclopedias and directories with low usage. We are therefore reviewing these subscriptions for FY25. The resources are: Encyclopedia of Associations, Encyclopedia of Astronomy & Astrophysics, National Faculty Directory, Oxford Research Encyclopedia on Climate Science, and Uniworld (see below for links and descriptions). Please note: Through the VIVA consortium, we continue to provide access to a wide range of encyclopedias via Oxford Reference Online.

If you use any of these reference resources in your research and teaching,

please complete this feedback form by June 30. 

Members of the Mason community may view information on usage and cost effectiveness (you must be logged in to your Mason365 environment).