Univ. of Illinois Libraries' ScienceDirect license agreement

March 28, 2025

Via electronic mail
Unknown
MuckRock News
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

Re: FOIA Request 25-457

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am responding to your request dated and received in my office on March 21, 2025, under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in which you requested:

“the following records:

1. Most recent governing, base, or master license with Elsevier, a subsidiary of RELX, relating to the product ScienceDirect.
2. All related amendments, addenda, appendices, attachments, product terms, MOUs, MOAs, data processing agreements, letters of intent.
3. All financial documents or records of financial transactions, exchanges or obligations related to the contractual relations with Elsevier’s ScienceDirect. Responsive materials include invoices, order forms, and any other documents that incorporate language governing terms of use of the ScienceDirect product.

Please do not limit your search to strictly direct agreements or renewals between the institution and Elsevier, but include all agreements and related documentation through consortia such as the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) or Lyrasis.”

I am writing to invoke an extension of the deadline for responding to the request under the following section(s) of the FOIA, which allows for additional time when:

* 140/3(e)(iii) the request is couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive search for the records responsive to it.

* 140/3(e)(vi) the request for records cannot be complied with by the public body within the time limits prescribed by paragraph (c) of this Section without unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body.

We are taking the additional five business days allowed by law to complete processing this request. The revised deadline will now be April 4, 2025.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Nazon
Vice President, External Relations and Communications
and Chief Records Officer

April 3, 2025

Via electronic mail
Unknown
MuckRock News
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

Re: FOIA Request 25-457

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am responding to your request dated and received in my office on March 21, 2025, under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in which you requested:

“the following records:

1. Most recent governing, base, or master license with Elsevier, a subsidiary of RELX, relating to the product ScienceDirect.
2. All related amendments, addenda, appendices, attachments, product terms, MOUs, MOAs, data processing agreements, letters of intent.
3. All financial documents or records of financial transactions, exchanges or obligations related to the contractual relations with Elsevier’s ScienceDirect. Responsive materials include invoices, order forms, and any other documents that incorporate language governing terms of use of the ScienceDirect product.

Please do not limit your search to strictly direct agreements or renewals between the institution and Elsevier, but include all agreements and related documentation through consortia such as the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) or Lyrasis.”

Information responsive to your request is available. These are public records numbering 165 pages. Due to file size, the records referenced above are available for download at https://uofi.box.com/s/555cv0c0fnu5h74vp4fjgw9rd6q09eey. This link will expire in 10 business days. Because reading files in the Box interface can be slow and challenging, we suggest that you click the Download button to save your responsive file to your desktop.

Portions of these records have been redacted pursuant to the following section(s) of the Act:

* 140/7(1)(b) that exempts from disclosure “Private information, unless disclosure is required by another provision of this Act, a State or federal law or a court order.” This includes personal telephone numbers and signatures.

* 140/7(1)(c) that exempts from disclosure “Personal information contained within public records, the disclosure of which, if disclosed, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, unless the disclosure is consented to in writing by the individual subjects of the information.” This includes vendor customer account numbers and vendor banking information including bank name, account numbers, routing numbers and wire transfer numbers.

* 140/7(1)(o) that exempts from disclosure “Administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations, including, but not limited to, software, operating protocols, computer program abstracts, file layouts, source listings, object modules, load modules, user guides, documentation pertaining to all logical and physical design of computerized systems, employee manuals, and any other information that, if disclosed, would jeopardize the security of the system or its data or the security of materials exempt under this Section.” This includes IP addresses.

* 140/7(1)(kk) that exempts from disclosure “The public body’s credit card numbers, debit card numbers, bank account numbers, Federal Employer Identification Number, security code numbers, passwords, and similar account information, the disclosure of which could results in identity theft or impression or defrauding of a governmental entity or a person.” This includes the University’s Tax-Exempt Identification Number and SIS ID number.

You have a right under the law to seek a review of this response by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) in the Office of the Attorney General. The PAC may be reached by phone at 877.299.3642 or by postal mail to Leah Bartelt, Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, 500 South 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. You also have the right to seek judicial review under section 11 of this Act.

If you have questions for our office, please contact 217-333-6400.

Sincerely,

Adrienne Nazon
Vice President, External Relations and
Communications
and Chief Records Officer