SciSpace Academy
Tutorial

How SciSpace Integrates with LibKey to Improve Research Access

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TL;DR

1-min read

This tutorial introduces the integration between SciSpace and LibKey, designed to shorten the path from finding a relevant paper to actually reading it. It is aimed at researchers, students and librarians at institutions with journal subscriptions, especially those whose library already provides LibKey access, and includes a live demonstration of the wider SciSpace platform.

Key takeaways

  • LibKey is a library access service that links a DOI or citation directly to the full text your institution subscribes to, and the integration brings that access into your SciSpace workflow.
  • Full-text PDFs can be retrieved through your institution's existing journal subscriptions, which removes many of the repeated logins and extra steps that slow down literature work.
  • Related and relevant papers can be surfaced more quickly during literature discovery, so you can follow promising leads without leaving the platform or losing track of your search.
  • Dead ends caused by paywalls and broken links are reduced, which shifts more of your time away from chasing documents and toward analysis and writing.
  • The live demo shows SciSpace supporting literature discovery, PDF reading, review automation and the creation of research outputs, giving a practical picture of how access and analysis connect.
  • When a paper is not covered by your subscriptions, legal routes such as open-access repositories, interlibrary loan or contacting the author remain useful alternatives.
Apply it

To apply this, check whether your library offers LibKey, then use SciSpace to search and open full-text papers directly through your institutional access.

How to do it

  1. Understand the LibKey integration

    Learn what the SciSpace LibKey integration does: it shortens the path from finding a relevant paper to reading it. This is especially useful if your library provides LibKey.

  2. Retrieve full-text PDFs via subscriptions

    Access full-text PDFs through your institution's existing journal subscriptions. This uses access you already have instead of paying separately.

  3. Find related papers faster

    Use SciSpace discovery to surface related and relevant papers more quickly. Faster discovery widens your literature coverage.

  4. Avoid paywalls and broken links

    Rely on the integration to avoid dead ends from paywalls and broken links. Less time chasing documents means more time for analysis.

  5. Read and work with the papers

    Read the retrieved PDFs in SciSpace and use them for review automation and research outputs. This connects access directly to your analysis and writing.

Try this on SciSpace

Frequently asked questions

What is LibKey?

LibKey is a library access service that connects researchers to the full text of articles their institution subscribes to, typically linking a DOI or citation straight to the PDF. It reduces the steps between finding a paper and reading it, and is offered through participating university and research libraries.

How can I access paywalled research papers legally?

Start with your institution's library subscriptions, using tools such as LibKey or library proxy links. Check for open-access versions in repositories or on the author's page, use interlibrary loan, or contact the author directly for a copy. Many funders also require open-access deposits, so accepted manuscripts are often freely available.

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