pubmed-search-mcp

by u9401066

Overview Schema Source Related Servers Discussions Admin

Python

Remote

get_institutional_link

Read-onlyIdempotent

Generate an OpenURL from a PMID, DOI, or article metadata so your library's resolver can route you to full-text access.

Instructions

Generate institutional access link (OpenURL) for an article.

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ 🔗 GET LIBRARY ACCESS LINK ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Generate an OpenURL that will take you through your library's link resolver to access the full text of an article.

PREREQUISITES: ───────────────── Must first call configure_institutional_access() to set up your resolver.

USAGE: ─────────────────

With PMID (easiest): get_institutional_link( source={"kind": "pmid", "value": "38353755"} )

With DOI: get_institutional_link( source={"kind": "doi", "value": "10.1001/jama.2024.1234"} )

With full metadata (most reliable): get_institutional_link( source={ "kind": "metadata", "title": "Some Article Title", "journal": "JAMA", "year": 2024, "volume": "331", "issue": "1", "pages": "45-52" } )

Args: source: Exactly one explicit PMID, DOI, or bounded metadata object.

Returns: OpenURL link or error message

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`source`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed26 schema fields changedv0.7.7Oct 7, 2026

addedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / kind / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "const": "doi",
+    "title": "Kind",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "pattern": "^[ \\t\\r\\n]*(?:[dD][oO][iI])[ \\t\\r\\n]*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / kind / const
```
Removed value: -"doi"
```
removedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / kind / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

addedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / description

Added value: +"Complete identifier string; optional identifier prefix, official article URL, or inline backticks. No numbers, foreign hosts, URL queries/fragments or partial identifiers."

addedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / examples

Added value: +[
+  "10.1000/example",
+  "doi:10.1000/example",
+  "https://doi.org/10.1000/example"
+]

addedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / format
```
Added value: +"pubmed-doi"
```
changedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / minLength
```
Previous value: -7New value: +1
```
removedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / pattern
```
Removed value: -"^10\\.[0-9]{4,9}/"
```
addedInput schema / $defs / DOISource / properties / value / x-pubmed-input
```
Added value: +"doi"
```

addedInput schema / $defs / InstitutionalMetadataSource / properties / kind / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "const": "metadata",
+    "title": "Kind",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "pattern": "^[ \\t\\r\\n]*(?:[mM][eE][tT][aA][dD][aA][tT][aA])[ \\t\\r\\n]*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / $defs / InstitutionalMetadataSource / properties / kind / const
```
Removed value: -"metadata"
```
removedInput schema / $defs / InstitutionalMetadataSource / properties / kind / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

changedInput schema / $defs / InstitutionalMetadataSource / properties / year / anyOf

Previous value: -[
-  {
-    "maximum": 9999,
-    "minimum": 1000,
-    "type": "integer"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]New value: +[
+  {
+    "maximum": 9999,
+    "minimum": 1000,
+    "type": "integer"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  },
+  {
+    "description": "ASCII decimal integer; the integer branch's bounds apply after conversion.",
+    "maxLength": 32,
+    "pattern": "^[ \\t\\r\\n]*-?(?:0|[1-9][0-9]*)[ \\t\\r\\n]*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+]

addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / kind / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "const": "pmid",
+    "title": "Kind",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "pattern": "^[ \\t\\r\\n]*(?:[pP][mM][iI][dD])[ \\t\\r\\n]*$",
+    "type": "string"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / kind / const
```
Removed value: -"pmid"
```
removedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / kind / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / description

Added value: +"Complete identifier string; optional identifier prefix, official article URL, or inline backticks. No numbers, foreign hosts, URL queries/fragments or partial identifiers."

addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / examples

Added value: +[
+  "33053718",
+  "PMID:33053718",
+  "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33053718/"
+]

addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / format
```
Added value: +"pubmed-pmid"
```
changedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / maxLength
```
Previous value: -20New value: +512
```
addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / minLength
```
Added value: +1
```
removedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / pattern
```
Removed value: -"^[1-9][0-9]{0,19}$"
```
addedInput schema / $defs / PMIDSource / properties / value / x-pubmed-input
```
Added value: +"pmid"
```

addedInput schema / properties / source / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "discriminator": {
+      "mapping": {
+        "doi": "#/$defs/DOISource",
+        "metadata": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource",
+        "pmid": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+      },
+      "propertyName": "kind"
+    },
+    "oneOf": [
+      {
+        "$ref": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+      },
+      {
+        "$ref": "#/$defs/DOISource"
+      },
+      {
+        "$ref": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource"
+      }
+    ],
+    "title": "Source"
+  },
+  {
+    "contentMediaType": "application/json",
+    "contentSchema": {
+      "discriminator": {
+        "mapping": {
+          "doi": "#/$defs/DOISource",
+          "metadata": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource",
+          "pmid": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+        },
+        "propertyName": "kind"
+      },
+      "oneOf": [
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+        },
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/DOISource"
+        },
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource"
+        }
+      ],
+      "title": "Source"
+    },
+    "description": "One JSON-encoded container; the decoded value must satisfy contentSchema.",
+    "maxLength": 1000000,
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "description": "One JSON code fence; after removing the fence, decode JSON and validate against x-pubmed-decodedSchema.",
+    "maxLength": 1000000,
+    "pattern": "^\\s*```(?:[jJ][sS][oO][nN])?[ \\t]*\\r?\\n[\\s\\S]*\\r?\\n```\\s*$",
+    "type": "string",
+    "x-pubmed-decodedSchema": {
+      "discriminator": {
+        "mapping": {
+          "doi": "#/$defs/DOISource",
+          "metadata": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource",
+          "pmid": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+        },
+        "propertyName": "kind"
+      },
+      "oneOf": [
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+        },
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/DOISource"
+        },
+        {
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource"
+        }
+      ],
+      "title": "Source"
+    },
+    "x-pubmed-encoding": "fenced-json"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / source / discriminator

Removed value: -{
-  "mapping": {
-    "doi": "#/$defs/DOISource",
-    "metadata": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource",
-    "pmid": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
-  },
-  "propertyName": "kind"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / source / oneOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "$ref": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
-  },
-  {
-    "$ref": "#/$defs/DOISource"
-  },
-  {
-    "$ref": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource"
-  }
-]

Changed13 schema fields changedv0.7.2Sep 13, 2026

addedInput schema / $defs

Added value: +{
+  "DOISource": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "description": "An explicit DOI.",
+    "properties": {
+      "kind": {
+        "const": "doi",
+        "title": "Kind",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "value": {
+        "maxLength": 512,
+        "minLength": 7,
+        "pattern": "^10\\.[0-9]{4,9}/",
+        "title": "Value",
+        "type": "string"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "kind",
+      "value"
+    ],
+    "title": "DOISource",
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "InstitutionalMetadataSource": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "description": "Bounded journal metadata used to construct an OpenURL.",
+    "properties": {
+      "issue": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "maxLength": 50,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "Issue"
+      },
+      "journal": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "maxLength": 300,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "Journal"
+      },
+      "kind": {
+        "const": "metadata",
+        "title": "Kind",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "pages": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "maxLength": 100,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "Pages"
+      },
+      "title": {
+        "maxLength": 1000,
+        "minLength": 1,
+        "title": "Title",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "volume": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "maxLength": 50,
+            "minLength": 1,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "Volume"
+      },
+      "year": {
+        "anyOf": [
+          {
+            "maximum": 9999,
+            "minimum": 1000,
+            "type": "integer"
+          },
+          {
+            "type": "null"
+          }
+        ],
+        "default": null,
+        "title": "Year"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "kind",
+      "title"
+    ],
+    "title": "InstitutionalMetadataSource",
+    "type": "object"
+  },
+  "PMIDSource": {
+    "additionalProperties": false,
+    "description": "An explicit PubMed identifier.",
+    "properties": {
+      "kind": {
+        "const": "pmid",
+        "title": "Kind",
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "value": {
+        "maxLength": 20,
+        "pattern": "^[1-9][0-9]{0,19}$",
+        "title": "Value",
+        "type": "string"
+      }
+    },
+    "required": [
+      "kind",
+      "value"
+    ],
+    "title": "PMIDSource",
+    "type": "object"
+  }
+}

addedInput schema / additionalProperties
```
Added value: +false
```

removedInput schema / properties / doi

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Doi"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / issue

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Issue"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / journal

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Journal"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / pages

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Pages"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / pmid

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Pmid"
-}

addedInput schema / properties / source

Added value: +{
+  "discriminator": {
+    "mapping": {
+      "doi": "#/$defs/DOISource",
+      "metadata": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource",
+      "pmid": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+    },
+    "propertyName": "kind"
+  },
+  "oneOf": [
+    {
+      "$ref": "#/$defs/PMIDSource"
+    },
+    {
+      "$ref": "#/$defs/DOISource"
+    },
+    {
+      "$ref": "#/$defs/InstitutionalMetadataSource"
+    }
+  ],
+  "title": "Source"
+}

removedInput schema / properties / title

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Title"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / volume

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Volume"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / year

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "title": "Year"
-}

addedInput schema / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "source"
+]
```

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -{
-  "properties": {
-    "result": {
-      "title": "Result",
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  },
-  "required": [
-    "result"
-  ],
-  "title": "get_institutional_linkOutput",
-  "type": "object"
-}New value: +null

First observedv0.5.16Jun 19, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, openWorldHint, and destructiveHint=false. The description adds the prerequisite dependency on configure_institutional_access, which is useful behavioral context beyond annotations. It also notes the return is a link or error message.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is well-structured with clear sections, but it includes decorative ASCII art and emojis that add length without informational value. The core content is efficient and front-loaded.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the complexity of the parameter (a discriminated union with multiple formats) and the lack of schema descriptions, the description provides complete information needed to call the tool correctly, including prerequisites, formats, and return type.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters5/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must clarify the parameter. It does so thoroughly by showing three different formats for the 'source' parameter with concrete examples, explaining that exactly one explicit PMID, DOI, or bounded metadata object is required.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb and resource: generating an OpenURL institutional access link for an article. It clearly distinguishes itself from siblings like configure_institutional_access or test_institutional_access by focusing on link generation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It includes a PREREQUISITES section requiring configure_institutional_access(), and provides concrete usage examples for PMID, DOI, and metadata. It doesn't explicitly state when not to use it, but the context is clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Deploy Server

get_institutional_link

Instructions

Input Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

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