Greek academics cut off from publishers as referendum looms

The service providing all Greek universities and research institutes with access to scholarly publishers has terminated all licenses after being unable to maintain payments.

The Hellenic Academic Libraries Link (HEAL-Link) is the portal through which Greek academics access the output of Elsevier, Oxford University Press, Sage and Springer, as well as tens of other publishers. From 1 July the service will no longer provide access to new academic publications. “Universities have no budget for research,” a spokeswoman told Research Europe. According to the spokeswoman, HEAL-Link has been covering the entire cost of licences for one year after universities and research institutes have been unable to meet the costs, but is unable to continue funding.

Negotiations between HEAL-Link and the publishers are continuing, the spokeswoman says. Greek academics will retain access to journal archives for all articles that fall within the license period that has just ended, but will not have access to new publications until a new agreement is reached.