Research Solutions, Inc., a provider of AI-powered scientific research tools, has partnered with Third Iron to integrate its Article Galaxy Scholar (AGS) service into the LibKey linking ecosystem. This collaboration aims to streamline access to scholarly content, reduce workflow complexity, and provide libraries with cost-effective alternatives for article delivery.
The integration embeds AGS within LibKey’s ‘waterfall’ linking structure, an ordered system that checks for access through open-access sources, publisher subscriptions, and aggregators before routing users to AGS. This gives researchers near-instant, one-click access to full-text articles not available through traditional holdings without the delays typical of interlibrary loan (ILL) systems.
Through this partnership, libraries access content from over 34,000 journals via AGS’s auto-mediated document delivery. With 98% of requests fulfilled in real-time, users benefit from rapid delivery and uninterrupted research experiences. Unlike temporary access models, AGS allows users to retain downloaded articles permanently, supporting ongoing research and citation.
The integration also offers:
• 24/7 availability: Researchers can access needed content anytime without dependence on staffing hours.
• Comprehensive journal coverage: Supplementary access to materials outside a library’s core subscriptions.
• Administrative control: Libraries fully control budgets, user permissions, approval settings, and usage reporting.
• Seamless user experience: The “Request PDF” option appears in familiar discovery environments like Primo, Summon, PubMed, Scopus, and Scite.
• Enhanced decision-making: Usage data collected through AGS complements traditional COUNTER metrics and helps assess unmet demand.
John Seguin, President and Chief Librarian at Third Iron, described the integration as a smart and efficient way to meet content needs without disrupting established workflows, noting that embedding AGS into the LibKey platform allows libraries to offer users clear, immediate access through familiar interfaces. Scott Ahlberg, Chief Operating Officer at Research Solutions, added that bringing AGS directly into the discovery layer eliminates common access barriers, enabling researchers to quickly understand their options and continue their work without delays or paywalls.
The integration is piloted with select institutions and will become broadly available in the coming months. It supports LibKey Discovery/API implementations and will extend to other LibKey services by Summer 2025.
The partnership responds directly to challenges faced by academic libraries, including satisfying unpredictable research requests, reducing ILL dependence, and evaluating demand for less frequently accessed content. It also helps libraries avoid duplicate payments for existing materials, making acquisition strategies more cost-efficient.
This development aligns with Research Solutions’ broader mission to simplify the research process by combining AI-enabled tools with flexible access to scientific literature. It also reinforces Third Iron’s focus on developing user-centric library services that bridge access gaps and support the evolving needs of scholars and institutions.
Click here to read the original press release.
