Web Extensions and Softwares
On this page, the Library offers you some extensions and software useful in your documentary research.
You can find all the tools recommended by the library on the Electronic Resources website.
Any questions? Contact resnum.bib@sciencespo.fr
Web extensions “Access broker”
We know how difficult it can be to find your way around the different ways of accessing online academic resources: authentication systems, paywalls, poorly visible PDF icons, etc.
These "Access Broker" extensions allow you to save time in your documentary research, in order to access directly to online PDFs, subscribed by the library or in open access.
Lean Library
Download: https://download.leanlibrary.com/sciences-po
Do you use digital resources but don't always know if Sciences Po can give you unrestricted access? LeanLibrary is the browser extension for you!
Watch our tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmXv3QyjOWk
Lean Library pops up when you are viewing a resource that Sciences Po owns or is offering as a test; if not, it will search for an open access version via Unpaywall or offer you other alternatives.
In some cases, a pop-up will appear automatically; most of the time, you will have to click on the icon to read the relevant information or access the PDF directly.
Whether you are on or off campus, LeanLibrary allows you to:
- access the library's digital resources quickly, without going through our website
- find an open access version via Unpaywall, if Sciences Po does not subscribe to the paid version
- be alerted in the event of a breakdown, test or specific access arrangements
- make an interlibrary loan request if necessary
This browser extension is easily installed by following this link: https://download.leanlibrary.com/sciences-po.
Choose SciencesPo and validate. That's it!
Once installed, the extension will also appear when you search on Google Scholar, in order to receive email alerts on the tables of contents of the journals of your choice, thanks to the Subscribe to TOC button:
Finally, at any time, you can use the extension to highlight text on any web page (image 1) and re-run your search terms through a list of pre-defined sources, including the library catalogue (image 2).
(1) Highlight text on any web page
(2) Re-run your search terms through the Library Catalogue
Google Scholar
Google Scholar (GS) is a Google-based search engine that points to academic repositories of peer-reviewed articles, grey literature and books; but also other free sites and academic social networks.
Bounce to our subscriptions
In order to take advantage of the library's subscriptions even when using Google Scholar outside the Sciences Po campus, go to Settings > Library links in authenticated mode.
Find Sciences Po, and tick the two boxes corresponding to our institution, then save.
You can also add other libraries if you have several supervisory bodies (CNRS, etc); or other sources, such as the SUDOC catalogue or the ISTEX corpus.
In this way, where appropriate, a link to our resources will appear in front of the documents in your results list, allowing you to bounce to the content.
Bibliographic export
To correctly retrieve bibliographic references from the GS results page, go to Settings > Search Results > Bibliography Manager.
Enable the display of links and choose your preferred software, for example EndNote.
Thus, the Import into Endnote button will appear in front of each document in your result list.
If you are using Zotero, no settings are needed! Google Scholar is compatible without any settings.
Google Scholar Button
This free extension to Google Scholar will allow you to find open access or free access (without a specific search scope), and to obtain citation information, without going through the native interface.
OA Helper
Download: https://www.oahelper.org/
You use digital resources but you don't always know if Sciences Po can give you unrestricted access? OAHelper is also a browser extension for you!
OAHelper pops up as soon as you consult a resource that Sciences Po owns; and, if not, will search for an open access version via Unpaywall & Core, or will propose other alternatives.
In some cases, a pop-up will appear automatically; in most cases, you will have to click on the icon to read the relevant information or access the PDF directly.
Whether you are on or off campus, OAHelper allows you to :
- access the library's resources without going through our website
- find an open access version via Unpaywall or Core, if Sciences Po does not subscribe to the paid version
- make an interlibrary loan request if necessary
- obtain information on the number of citations via OpenCitations
After installation, choose Sciences Po and validate. That's it!
Click&Read
Download: https://clickandread.inist.fr/
This very recent extension has been developed by the Inist.
All the French academic public can install it free of charge to access quickly and easily :
- to Istex & Panist resources
- to open access alternatives via Unpaywall
- to BibCNRS resources [CNRS members only].
After installation, declare your institution(s) of affiliation and choose the order of the queried sources (in French only).
During your documentary research on the web, a simple click on the icon will take you directly to the required PDF.
Bibliographic management software and references
Bibliographic management software is there to help you in all stages of managing your primary and secondary sources: collection, annotation, storage, citations and bibliographies, collaborative work.
Zotero
Zotero is a free, open source bibliographic management software designed and maintained by academics.
Zotero allows you to collect, organise, annotate and cite your bibliographic references in an easy and intuitive way.
The Sciences Po Library strongly recommends the use of this tool during your studies and for all your research projects.
More information here: https://sciencespo.libguides.com/zotero
We offer group or individual support during the academic year:
- by e-mail: zotero.bib@sciencespo.fr
- without any appointment, at the front desk of the Research library, on Thursday afternoons (Saint-Thomas campus)
- in training, on site or via Zoom: see the planning des formations
Endnote
Endnote is a paid bibliographic management software.
This tool allows you to collect, organise and cite your bibliographic references.
Endnote is accessible to members of the Sciences Po community on the public workstations of the research library, and in certain research centres.
To make the best use of Endnote, set up the software to connect to library subscriptions:
- go to Edit > Preferences > Find Full Text;
- check the OpenURL box.