Member News & Announcements, April IO 2026

Awards & Honors

UConn Library Conservation Lab Earns Gold Certification for Sustainability
University of Connecticut, LSA Consortia Member (Boston Library Consortium), Blog Post, March 16, 2026

The UConn Library’s Conservation Lab has received Gold Certification from My Green Lab, advancing the university’s commitment to sustainable research practices. The certification, recognized by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, is considered the global gold standard for laboratory sustainability. 

Founded in 2013 by neuroscientist Allison Paradise, My Green Lab emerged from firsthand observations of the significant waste and inefficiencies common in research environments, many rooted in long‑standing practices. My Green Lab has challenged the scientific community to rethink how research is conducted and make more sustainable choices in their daily work. 

JSTOR Upholds 100% ASPIRE Gold Rating for Accessibility Statement 
ITHAKA, Voting Member, Press Release, March 5, 2026

ASPIRE, the verification service for accessibility statements in the publishing industry, has awarded JSTOR a Gold 100% ASPIRE score following a February 2026 review of its Accessibility at JSTOR webpage, statements, and other communications. 

ASPIRE’s independent review evaluates accessibility statements for clarity, completeness, transparency, and practical usefulness to users. In its 2026 assessment, ASPIRE confirmed that JSTOR’s statement achieved full marks across both Communication and Content Information categories, including discoverability, response times, DRM-free status, screen reader and text-to-speech compatibility, navigation, magnification and reflow, and color and contrast guidance.

Cambridge Authors Take Centre Stage at 2026 Prose Awards
Cambridge University Press, Voting Member, Blog Post, March 2, 2026

This year sees Cambridge authors recognised once again for their landmark achievements across an extraordinary breadth of disciplines. From Earth Sciences to Classics, their award‑winning work reflects the depth and innovation that define our global community of authors and editors. 

The Association of American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE Awards) has recognised the strength and depth of Cambridge’s scholarly publishing, with 23 titles honoured in 2026, including the prestigious R.R. Hawkins Award, two Excellence winners, nine Subject Category winners, and eleven Finalists.   

Partnerships & Collaborations

PALCI Establishes Partnership with EdPros Digital to Support Member Libraries’ Digital Accessibility and Compliance Efforts
PALCI, Voting Member, Press Release, March 26, 2026

The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EdPros Digital, LLC to support the consortium and its member libraries in addressing changing digital accessibility requirements and advancing compliance with evolving federal regulations.

The agreement will operate as an integral part of PALCI’s Accessibility Commitment and Statement of Practice, and PALCI’s Accessibility Roadmap, an internal planning tool which establishes a collaborative framework through which PALCI members may develop, support, and access cost-effective services, solutions, and expertise related to digital accessibility, including support aligned with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and WCAG 2.2 guidelines.

Announcing the Library Partnership Development Framework
ITHAKA, Voting Member, Blog Post, March 24, 2026

Across sectors, organizations are increasingly recognizing that no single institution can meet the full range of needs facing students and communities today. Effective partnerships, grounded in shared goals, clear roles, and sustained collaboration, are essential for addressing complex challenges like access to education, workforce development, digital inclusion, and basic needs support. Libraries offer a compelling example of how this work can take shape.

Public and academic libraries often serve the same populations through different institutional structures. In both settings, libraries regularly serve students balancing coursework, jobs, and family responsibilities, as well as community members seeking reliable internet access, workforce resources, or a place to study and connect. These shared audiences and missions create natural opportunities for collaboration across institutions, yet there is limited guidance on how they can work together intentionally and effectively to support their community’s basic needs.

Renewed partnership: DOAJ and Crossref focus on equitable scholarly metadata and global support
Crossref, Voting Member, Blog Post, March 12, 2026

We have renewed our partnership with DOAJ to focus on a new set of objectives that reflect both organisations’ commitment to improving sustainable and equitable services and infrastructure. This renewed collaboration focuses on improving the quality of scholarly metadata while expanding support for journals in low- and middle income- countries.

We have worked together since 2021, primarily to encourage the dissemination and use of scholarly research using online technologies, and regional and international networks, partners and communities. This partnership has helped to build local institutional capacity and sustainability within the global scholarly communication ecosystem. A continued partnership also reflects that we have a shared community; currently almost 90% of DOAJ journals are represented in Crossref.

ASM Expands Partnerships with Two Global Virology Societies
American Society for Microbiology, Voting Member, Press Release, March 9, 2026

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is pleased to announce the expansion of its virology network through partnerships with 2 leading international societies, the Korean Society of Virology (KSoV) and the Australasian Virology Society (AVS). Under these partnerships, ASM’s Journal of Virology (JVI) becomes an affiliated journal of both societies, providing KSoV and AVS members with exclusive benefits. This takes the total number of active ASM partnerships with virology societies to 4, building on existing collaborations with the American Society for Virology (ASV) and the Gesellschaft für Virologie (GfV). 

Through these collaborations, ASM and its partners will work to amplify the global reach and impact of virology research. JVI publishes top innovative research on viruses that affect animals, archaea, bacteria, fungi, plants and protozoa. The partnerships will provide discounts on JVI individual subscriptions, page charges, supplemental material hosting and the purchase of reprints and e-prints to partner society members. KSoV and AVS, along with their community of members, will play a vital role in promoting and contributing to JVI’s scientific excellence.

Emerald Publishing and PRME announce collaboration to launch two new journals
Emerald Publishing Group, Voting Member, Press Release, March 9, 2026

Emerald Publishing has announced a strategic collaboration with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) an initiative of the United Nations Global Compact, leading the global movement to embed ethics, sustainability and social responsibility into business and management education.

As part of the collaboration, Emerald will launch two new PRME co-branded journals, strengthening both organisations’ shared commitment to advancing responsible management education and research on a global scale.

PRME is a highly respected international network engaging more than 850 Signatory institutions across 96 countries, supported by 17 regional Chapters. Its mission to embed the values of sustainability and responsible management into higher education closely aligns with Emerald’s purpose-driven approach to publishing and its focus on research with real-world impact.

ACS and IEEE partner to advance STEM
American Chemical Society (ACS) and IEEE, Voting Members, Press Release, March 4, 2026

The American Chemical Society (ACS) and IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization, have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster collaboration and share knowledge in support of their shared commitment to advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the benefit of the global community.

Under this agreement, ACS and IEEE will explore opportunities for joint initiatives, including co-hosted events, expert exchanges, collaborative communications, and the development of products and services that promote innovation across chemistry, engineering and related disciplines. The partnership reflects both organizations’ commitment to education, research and professional development in their respective fields.

Acquisitions

Elsevier announces definitive agreement to acquire Mytonomy
Elsevier, Voting Member, Press Release, March 10, 2026

Acquisition to expand Elsevier’s portfolio of advanced healthcare solutions with enterprise cloud platform, broadcast quality video and end-to-end patient journey engagement

Elsevier today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mytonomy, a leader in video-based patient engagement solutions that will complement Elsevier’s Clinical Solutions portfolio. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary regulatory closing conditions. 

New Products & Innovations

EBSCO launches Indigenous Studies Source database for global research access
EBSCO, Voting Member, Press Release, March 5, 2026

Researchers and scholars can now access essential content on Indigenous heritage, experiences, and sociopolitical contexts worldwide with the release of Indigenous Studies Source from EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO). This full-text resource offers curated content focused on the largest Indigenous populations across the globe. 

The extensive collection in Indigenous Studies Source contains 138 full-text journals and magazines. It also features seminal books, tribal newspapers and reports covering the fifty largest Indigenous groups across North America, Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, and Oceania.  Topics span cultural preservation and ethnohistory, as well as Indigenous knowledge systems and the experience of Indigenous women. Coverage also addresses land tenure, language revitalization, legal status, postcolonialism, reconciliation, repatriation of cultural property, sovereignty and tribal government.

Open Access, Open Research

Wolters Kluwer launches pilot to advance Open Access medical research in India
Wolters Kluwer, Voting Member, Press Release, March 4, 2026

Wolters Kluwer Health today announced a significant milestone in its Open Access strategy for medical research in India, with the introduction of the Lippincott Open Access India APC Advantage Pilot. This commitment establishes Wolters Kluwer’s India-focused Open Access initiative through the globally recognized Lippincott portfolio, which will help elevate the role of Indian medical research on the world stage.

“At Wolters Kluwer, our vision for Open Access in India goes beyond scale; it is firmly anchored in quality, trust, and long-term impact. Through the Lippincott Open Access India APC Advantage Pilot, our intent is to create a responsible and credible publishing pathway that empowers Indian clinicians, academicians, and early-career medical researchers to publish work of international standards with confidence,” said Ruchi Tushir, Wolters Kluwer Vice President and General Manager, India.

White Papers & Reports

Sage’s Independence with Impact Report shows publisher investment in critical thinking and championing research impact
SAGE Publishing, Voting Member, Press Release, March 16, 2026

Sage, a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources, today published its latest Independence with Impact Report(opens in a new tab), a snapshot of the progress the company made in 2025 in support of education and research.

The report shows how Sage’s independence enables long-term investment in the people, ideas, and partnerships that matter most to the education and research communities it serves. In an era shaped by misinformation and rapidly evolving AI, it highlights how Sage stays focused on its mission, supporting critical thinking and research impact so learning and research can thrive.