[Eril-l] Wiley "Free to Read" articles going back behind paywalls recently?

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

That's what I was thinking, Theresa — I'm concerned that discovery knowledgebases and open access tracking services may be indexing these items as available when that access could be fleeting.

Ben Hockenberry
Head of Library Systems and Subscriptions
Lavery Library, St. John Fisher University
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Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Wiley "Free to Read" articles going back behind paywalls recently?


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I frequently see promos from Wiley and other publishers with limited time access to articles around a theme.   Here's an example:

"National Zoo & Aquarium Month is raising awareness of the need to preserve America’s Wildlife!  Enjoy free access to key Wiley articles related to protecting America’s vanishing wilderness and wildlife."

Theresa Arndt
Dickinson College Library
arndtt at dickinson.edu
she/her/hers

My work hours may differ from yours.  Please do not feel obliged respond outside your normal work hours.
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Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2026 5:49 PM
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Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Wiley "Free to Read" articles going back behind paywalls recently?

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Possible reason- “Free to read” is not the same as “free to read, download, and share”?





From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2026 3:35 PM
To: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: [Eril-l] Wiley "Free to Read" articles going back behind paywalls recently?



In the last week, a rash of articles have been sent my way through our problem-reporting pipeline involving Wiley articles linked from third party databases like CINAHL or Primo Unpaywall links, in which the third party expects full text access but the user hits a paywall. On checking Unpaywall's article fixer tool, each article comes up indexed as "Free to Read."  In one case a student stated they were able to article access the article in question as recently as last week. So far no response from Wiley.



Have others observed similar, and perhaps have a scoop on what's going on with this Wiley content? It seems like as they were labeled "free to read," not "open access," they may have been in a time-delimited or otherwise revokable free status.



Ben Hockenberry

Head of Library Systems and Subscriptions

Lavery Library, St. John Fisher University


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