paper-lookup

Query ten scholarly REST APIs and return structured multi-database literature results.

Updated Apr 16, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ejoliet/claude-skills --skill paper-lookup-ejoliet
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: paper-lookup
Source: https://github.com/ejoliet/claude-skills/tree/main/paper-lookup
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ejoliet/claude-skills --skill paper-lookup-ejoliet

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Researchers face fragmented access to scholarly articles across many databases. This Skill unifies querying ten REST APIs (PubMed, PMC, bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv, OpenAlex, Crossref, Semantic Scholar, CORE, Unpaywall) to locate papers, DOIs, abstracts, and OA availability.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Multi-database querying: Route queries to the most relevant databases and aggregate results.
  • ** Flexible result types**: Retrieve metadata, DOIs, abstracts, OA links, and full texts when available.
  • Use Case: Find all papers on a topic, identify OA versions, and gather citation data across sources.

Quick Start

Query "quantum computing" and return a unified result set from PubMed, arXiv, OpenAlex, and Crossref.

Frequently Asked Questions about paper-lookup

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I search for open access papers across multiple scholarly databases at once?

To search open access papers across multiple scholarly databases, this Skill routes your query to ten REST APIs like PubMed, arXiv, OpenAlex, and Unpaywall, aggregating matching literature results into a single unified payload.

Can I retrieve DOIs and abstracts from arXiv and PubMed using REST APIs?

Yes, you can retrieve DOIs and abstracts from arXiv and PubMed by querying their REST APIs. The Skill coordinates calls across these databases to fetch metadata, OA links, and available full texts.

What is the best way to find open access versions of articles indexed in Crossref?

The best way to find open access versions of Crossref articles is to query Crossref alongside Unpaywall. The Skill coordinates these REST APIs to locate DOIs and identify accessible OA full texts.

How do I handle API rate limits when querying multiple scholarly search databases?

To handle API rate limits during scholarly search, the Skill automatically respects the rate limits of each queried database, gracefully managing multi-database requests to PubMed, bioRxiv, CORE, and others without exceeding thresholds.

Does this paper lookup tool return raw API responses or structured citations?

This paper lookup tool returns raw API responses alongside a record of the endpoints used. It provides a structured, multi-database results payload containing metadata, DOIs, and abstracts rather than formatted citations.

What happens if a scholarly search query returns no results from bioRxiv or medRxiv?

If a scholarly search query returns no results from bioRxiv or medRxiv, the Skill handles the empty responses gracefully and continues aggregating available data from other queried REST APIs like Semantic Scholar or OpenAlex.