What is Paper Search Mcp

paper-search-mcp is a Python-based Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed for searching and downloading academic papers from various platforms such as arXiv, PubMed, and bioRxiv. It simplifies the process for researchers by providing a unified interface to access academic resources efficiently, making it particularly beneficial for AI-driven workflows.

Use cases

The primary use cases of paper-search-mcp include enabling researchers to quickly find and download academic papers from multiple sources, facilitating the integration of academic research into AI models, and providing tools for efficient data retrieval for research and review purposes. It’s particularly useful in environments where rapid access to a wide range of scientific literature is needed.

How to use

To use paper-search-mcp, first install the package using the command ‘uv add paper-search-mcp’. After installation, configure it to work with Claude Desktop by adding the necessary server configuration to the specific JSON config file. Users can directly invoke search and download operations through the MCP interface once the server is running.

Key features

Key features of paper-search-mcp include multi-source support for accessing papers from various academic platforms, standardized output formats, asynchronous processing for efficient request handling, seamless integration with LLM clients, and an extensible design that allows for easy addition of new academic sources.

Where to use

paper-search-mcp can be used in academic and research environments, especially where integration with large language models is desired. It is suitable for individual researchers, institutional libraries, and development settings where accessing scientific literature quickly is essential for ongoing research or data analysis.

Paper Search MCP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for searching and downloading academic papers from multiple sources, including arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, and Sci-Hub (optional). Designed for seamless integration with large language models like Claude Desktop.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Features
• Installation
  • Quick Start
    • Install Package
    • Configure Claude Desktop
  • For Development
    • Setup Environment
    • Install Dependencies
• Contributing
• Demo
• License
• TODO

Overview

paper-search-mcp is a Python-based MCP server that enables users to search and download academic papers from various platforms. It provides tools for searching papers (e.g., search_arxiv) and downloading PDFs (e.g., download_arxiv), making it ideal for researchers and AI-driven workflows. Built with the MCP Python SDK, it integrates seamlessly with LLM clients like Claude Desktop.

Features

• Multi-Source Support: Search and download papers from arXiv, PubMed, bioRxiv, and Sci-Hub (optional).
• Standardized Output: Papers are returned in a consistent dictionary format via the Paper class.
• Asynchronous Tools: Efficiently handles network requests using httpx.
• MCP Integration: Compatible with MCP clients for LLM context enhancement.
• Extensible Design: Easily add new academic platforms by extending the academic_platforms module.

Installation

paper-search-mcp can be installed using uv or pip. Below are two approaches: a quick start for immediate use and a detailed setup for development.

Installing via Smithery

To install paper-search-mcp for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @openags/paper-search-mcp --client claude

Quick Start

For users who want to quickly run the server:

1. Install Package:

   uv add paper-search-mcp
   

2. Configure Claude Desktop:
   Add this configuration to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (Mac) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "paper_search_server": {
         "command": "uv",
         "args": [
           "run",
           "--directory",
           "/path/to/your/paper-search-mcp",
           "-m",
           "paper_search_mcp.server"
         ]
       }
     }
   }
   

   Note: Replace /path/to/your/paper-search-mcp with your actual installation path.

For Development

For developers who want to modify the code or contribute:

1. Setup Environment:

   # Install uv if not installed
   curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
   
   # Clone repository
   git clone https://github.com/openags/paper-search-mcp.git
   cd paper-search-mcp
   
   # Create and activate virtual environment
   uv venv
   source .venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
   

2. Install Dependencies:

   # Install project in editable mode
   uv add -e .
   
   # Add development dependencies (optional)
   uv add pytest flake8
   

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here’s how to get started:

1. Fork the Repository:
   Click “Fork” on GitHub.

2. Clone and Set Up:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/paper-search-mcp.git
   cd paper-search-mcp
   pip install -e ".[dev]"  # Install dev dependencies (if added to pyproject.toml)
   

3. Make Changes:

   • Add new platforms in academic_platforms/.
   • Update tests in tests/.

4. Submit a Pull Request:
   Push changes and create a PR on GitHub.

Demo

TODO

Planned Academic Platforms

• [√] arXiv
• [√] PubMed
• [√] bioRxiv
• [√] medRxiv
• [√] Google Scholar
• [ ] Semantic Scholar
• [ ] PubMed Central (PMC)
• [ ] Science Direct
• [ ] Springer Link
• [ ] IEEE Xplore
• [ ] ACM Digital Library
• [ ] Web of Science
• [ ] Scopus
• [ ] JSTOR
• [ ] ResearchGate
• [ ] CORE
• [ ] Microsoft Academic

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Happy researching with paper-search-mcp! If you encounter issues, open a GitHub issue.