Ask Your Library

Since 2018, the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries (CSAL) has been negotiating with scientific publishers to ensure optimal access to scientific publications while enabling open publishing for Swiss researchers (Read and Publish agreements).

As of the end of this year, no satisfactory agreement has yet been reached for:

• The journals license with Wiley (see the Swissuniversities announcement)
• The Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (LWW) license (see the CSAL announcement)

The current contracts will end on December 31, 2024, and preparations are underway for a no-contract situation at the beginning of next year.

Although access is generally maintained during negotiations, access to articles from several electronic journals by these publishers may no longer be possible in 2025. CSAL and Swissuniversities recommend searching for articles in their Open Access versions, which can be facilitated by installing search “buttons” in Firefox or Chrome browsers (Unpaywall, Open Access Button or Core Discovery). Researchers are also encouraged to look for available versions on institutional platforms (e.g., Serval, Orphee) or request a copy directly from the author.

The BCUL (Bibliothèque cantonale et universitaire de Lausanne) is also available to assist with your search through the following services:

• Print subscriptions available at BCUL sites
• Electronic access to journals up until the end of 2024
• Interlibrary loan services (ILL)
• The information desk at your BCUL site
• The “Ask your library” service

Information about publishing can be found on the wiki de la recherche UNIL.