Crossref Mcp
Query Crossref scholarly metadata from your agent while researching ideas, citations, and evidence for product decisions.
Overview
Crossref MCP is a MCP server for the Idea phase that wraps the Crossref REST API so agents can retrieve scholarly metadata and DOI records.
What is this MCP server?
- MCP wrapper around the public Crossref REST API for scholarly metadata
- PyPI package crossref-mcp (v0.1.0) with stdio transport
- Optional CROSSREF_MAILTO for Crossref polite pool and CROSSREF_PLUS_TOKEN for Plus API
- Docker OCI image heyinnaneo/crossref-mcp:0.1.0 with optional MCP_API_KEY for HTTP transport
- Server version 0.1.0 (PyPI crossref-mcp and Docker heyinnaneo/crossref-mcp:0.1.0)
- stdio transport; optional HTTP via Docker with MCP_API_KEY
What problem does it solve?
You lose momentum context-switching to Crossref and copying citation fields manually while researching from your agent.
Who is it for?
Indie builders, devrel writers, and technical founders who need fast bibliographic lookups and DOI facts during early research.
Skip if: Teams that need full-text PDF access, reference library UI, or non-scholarly market intelligence only.
What do I get? / Deliverables
Your agent can query Crossref metadata inside MCP workflows so research notes and scope docs stay sourced and current.
- Structured scholarly metadata from Crossref inside agent sessions
- Citable DOI and publication facts for notes, PRDs, and content
- Repeatable research queries without manual Crossref UI copying
Recommended MCP Servers
Journey fit
How it compares
Scholarly metadata MCP over Crossref, not a Slack bridge or media workspace studio.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is Crossref MCP for?
Solo builders and researchers using MCP agents who cite or verify academic and publisher metadata via Crossref.
When should I use Crossref MCP?
During idea research, competitor or literature scans, or when drafting validated scope docs that need DOI-backed references.
How do I add Crossref MCP to my agent?
Install crossref-mcp from PyPI for stdio, set CROSSREF_MAILTO (recommended), optionally CROSSREF_PLUS_TOKEN, or run the Docker image with the same env vars in your MCP config.