Content
# crossref-mcp
[Polski](README.pl.md)
Crossref REST API MCP server. Wraps the public Crossref REST API (works, journals, funders, members, types, licenses) — no API key required.
## Table of contents
- [Tools](#tools)
- [Environment variables](#environment-variables)
- [Wiring it up](#wiring-it-up)
- [Local run](#local-run)
## Tools
| Tool | Parameters | Description |
|------|-----------|------|
| `search_works` | `query, filter, select, sort, order, rows=20, offset=0, cursor` | Search Crossref works (publications) |
| `get_work` | `doi: str` | Full metadata for a single work by DOI |
| `get_work_agency` | `doi: str` | Registration agency for a DOI |
| `list_journals` | `query, rows=20, offset=0, cursor` | List or search journals |
| `get_journal` | `issn: str` | Journal metadata by ISSN |
| `get_journal_works` | `issn, query, filter, rows=20, offset=0, cursor` | Works published in a journal |
| `list_funders` | `query, filter, rows=20, offset=0` | List or search funding bodies |
| `get_funder` | `funder_id: str` | Funder metadata by Funder Registry ID |
| `list_members` | `query, filter, rows=20, offset=0` | List or search Crossref members (publishers) |
| `list_types_and_licenses` | none | Available work types and licenses |
## Environment variables
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---------|----------|------|
| `CROSSREF_MCP_MAILTO` | no | Email address for Crossref's "polite pool" — higher rate limits, faster responses |
## Wiring it up
Only requirement: `uv` (https://docs.astral.sh/uv/). Nothing else to install.
### Claude Code
```
claude mcp add crossref-mcp -- uvx --from git+https://github.com/dam2452/crossref-mcp.git crossref-mcp
```
With the polite pool email set:
```
claude mcp add crossref-mcp -e CROSSREF_MCP_MAILTO=you@example.com -- uvx --from git+https://github.com/dam2452/crossref-mcp.git crossref-mcp
```
### Claude Desktop / other MCP client
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"crossref-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/dam2452/crossref-mcp.git", "crossref-mcp"],
"env": { "CROSSREF_MCP_MAILTO": "you@example.com" }
}
}
}
```
After pushing a new version: `uv cache clean` and restart the client.
## Local run
```
uv run --directory . crossref-mcp
```
Tests (manual):
```
uv run --directory . --with pytest pytest test/
```
