Beginning in 2026, JSTOR will offer Publisher Collections, a new model within the Books at JSTOR program. Publisher Collections will enable libraries around the world to acquire significant lists of new books from a growing set of 20+ publishers on the JSTOR platform. The model responds directly to the needs of libraries and publishers for diverse, affordable books acquisition models.

John Sherer, Director of the University of North Carolina Press is among the publisher and library leaders who worked with JSTOR to develop this model. “UNC Press is eager to participate in the new JSTOR Publisher Collections program,” said Sherer. “We’re all aware that this is an exceptionally challenging time, but we also believe that effectively and efficiently distributing high quality, peer-reviewed humanities research is more vital than ever. This initiative has been carefully designed to meet the needs of both libraries and presses and should result in a significant expansion in the accessibility of our scholarship for students, researchers, and institutions.”

The model encourages equitable, broad access to scholarship. Each Publisher Collection will provide:

  • A perpetual JSTOR license to current year title sets from a press
  • Access to all earlier press titles on JSTOR for active participants
  • An innovative tiered approach to publisher-set fees based on JSTOR’s classification methodology
  • International country savings aligned with JSTOR’s Archive program

Like all books in the Books at JSTOR program, Publisher Collection books will be DRM-free and searchable alongside journal articles and research reports aligned to related subjects, along with primary sources, images, and multimedia, on JSTOR’s trusted platform.

In developing this model, JSTOR surveyed and interviewed more than 175 libraries for their feedback. Seventy-nine percent of library decision makers surveyed said they were likely or very likely to participate in the Publisher Collections model. Sixty-nine percent of all interview participants agreed the model addressed today’s library challenges of flat budget, platform sprawl, and need for perpetual access.

Kate McCready, Program Director for Open Publishing for the Big Ten Academic Alliance Center for Library Programs also worked with JSTOR to develop the Publisher Collections model. “I appreciate that JSTOR consulted with libraries and university presses on the design of Publisher Collections, ensuring that the program is based on our shared values including transparency, support for trustworthy knowledge creation and dissemination, and responsible stewardship of our institutions’ resources. It’s exciting to know that this program will increase the number of unlimited, DRM-free ebooks available and provide greater access to the materials to libraries around the world.”

The 20+ publishers already participating in Publisher Collections include university presses and independent academic publishers. Marlene McHugh Pratt, SUNY Press Director, said: “When JSTOR approached us with an offer to participate in their new Publisher Collections program, we saw it as an opportunity to offer libraries more choices. We were impressed with the care, collaboration, and commitment they brought to construct a solution that benefits both publishers and libraries.”

Publisher Collections is the latest step in JSTOR’s work with the community to deliver values-aligned, scalable solutions to industry-wide challenges. Rebecca Seger, Vice President of Institutional Participation and Strategic Partnerships at ITHAKA remarked, “This is the right model at the right time. We’re pleased that we’ve crafted a nonprofit-led, collaborative approach that promises to achieve widespread impact for authors and readers.”

Learn more about Publisher Collections.

Media Contact
Heidi McGregor
ITHAKA/JSTOR
heidi.mcgregor@ithaka.org