You use Google Scholar to find papers you're interested in, then use sci-hub to actually read them.

Not sure if researchgate is still a thing. I had it and uploaded all my papers there. They show up automatically on Google. I believe this is allowed since you’re allowed to share copies of your publication on your website.

The problem is my researchgate account was connected to my academic account. It’s been a while since I graduated so I’ve lost access to my own publications and page.

But I used to use researchgate and requests in researchgate quite a bit.

indeed... and use Zotero with the correct plugin to download them automagically

sci-hub hasn't been updated in 4 years and the sources for annas-archive like nexus-stc are seriously hit or miss (depends on the field).

Nothing lasts forever, but the model of buying a paper for 40$ from Elsevier isn't much better. Depending on the field there are other sources, but still a hit rate is about 85-90%.

Any alternatives?

I'm a proud user of sci-hub but when I was still in academics, I have never used it. My school has access to all the journals I ever needed, plus more old non-digitized ones I can borrow from library (including interlibrary access).

It depends on the discipline, also the mode of learning (I'm distance learning so no physical library access).

My uni (Northampton) has access to a LOT of journals... but has a blindspot in management, specifically accountancy focus journals; am doing my lit review for my MSc dissertation and the number of times I hit a dead end is frustrating.

Sci-hub and Annas-Archive are also not interested in that segment, so double whammy.

But surprisingly Archive.org was able to help me out a bit, so thanks for that.

My school has no such thing and yet requires me to find and cite research.

I think access to research shouldn't be a luxury or dependent on where you study

Reminds me of Aaron Swartz.

The legend

>My school has access to all the journals I ever needed

I miss being on a university network and having paywalled journals and such just magically load.

scihub is dying unfortunately :( the good news is it is happening just as all the fields i'm interested in except for some experimental physics & biology have moved to OA

oa resources have really kicked it into high gear post covid. They used to be kind of a joke, but they're actually competitive now. It's nice to see.

I believe NIH's directive that all intramural and extramural research must be published OA has helped move things in that direction quite a lot.

Sorry but what is OA?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_access (I assume)

Does sci-hub have up to date content these days?

Having pretty wide journal access through my institution means I don’t need to reach out to sci-hub.

sci-hub proper hasn't been updated since it's indefinite pause in december 2020. Alternatives are of variable success depending on field. It might be better for CS/Math, but medicine and life sciences it's pretty bad.

i believe they paused due to an indian court injunction and the case was heard this year, does anyone know any update?

How would an Indian court case have any jurisdiction in Russia (not to mention mirrors)?

Sci-Hub complied with the order with the intent to actually argue their case (and possibly establish a legal justification for the site), rather than just defying the order and continuing to play cat-and-mouse with every authority.

And this is because they have a chance of winning. The same court has previously adopted a broad interpretation of what constitutes fair dealing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Oxford_v._Ramesh...