Maria Gould
Director of Strategic Programs & Partnerships
DataCite
In April 2026, DataCite transitioned to a new membership model focused on a deliberate shift away from transactional pricing to one focused on collective investment in shared open research infrastructure. At a time of institutional budget crises, vendor consolidation and lock-in, and concerns about infrastructure fragility, DataCite’s model represents an important and instructive path for the community to consider. This briefing will outline the motivations driving this change and highlight broader lessons and considerations for libraries, consortia, institutions, and other initiatives facing complicated decisions about the long-term sustainability and stewardship of the services and resources they manage and depend upon.
