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MathSciNet

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What MathSciNet is

MathSciNet is a web-based publication service for searching reviews, abstracts, and bibliographic records in the mathematical sciences. Its database contains more than 3.6 million items and over 2.3 million direct links to original articles, with more than 125,000 new items and over 90,000 reviews added each year. Most new records receive Mathematics Subject Classification codes. Unique MR Author IDs help locate an author’s work without relying only on name strings. Search tools cover publications, authors, journals, and citation information, while citation data comes from matched reference lists from approximately 650 journals. Citations can be viewed or downloaded in EndNote, AMSRefs, BibTeX, or ASCII, up to 50 items at once. Search MSC and Collaboration Distance are available without a subscription. The service updates hourly, and newly cataloged material appears within an hour after processing. Institutional subscriptions are billed annually, with pricing on request.

Who it suits

MathSciNet suits researchers, librarians, and institutions searching mathematical literature across articles, books, reviews, and proceedings papers. Institutional access is available, and a 30-day free trial is listed.

What it does well

Over 3.6 million mathematical-literature items
Unique author IDs improve publication searches
Hourly updates and rapid catalog posting
Citation export in four formats
Free MSC and Collaboration Distance tools

What to know first

Citation coverage depends on included full reference lists
Exports are limited to 50 items at a time
Institutional pricing is available on request

Limits

Citation exports are limited to 50 items at a time. Reference citations cover only records whose full reference lists are included in MathSciNet, and institutional use is restricted to one site.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Institutional subscription	Annual fees are paid by the subscribing institution; the page does not state an amount. · Site-wide access for listed IP addresses · usage restricted to a single site	On request

As mathscinet.ams.org lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the MathSciNet website
Use Search MSC or Collaboration Distance without a subscription
Start a 30-day free trial if available
Arrange an institutional subscription through the American Mathematical Society
Access the site from the subscribing institution’s listed IP addresses

Verdict

MathSciNet offers broad mathematical-literature coverage, author identification, citation tools, and frequent updates. Check institutional access terms and citation-coverage limits for your research needs.

Questions

Is there a free trial?

Yes. The AMS quickstart guide states that a 30-day free trial is available.

What can be used without a subscription?

Search MSC and Collaboration Distance are listed as free tools.

What does an institutional subscription provide?

It provides site-wide access for listed IP addresses, with usage restricted to a single site.

Which citation formats are supported?

Citations can be viewed or downloaded in EndNote, AMSRefs, BibTeX, and ASCII formats.

How often is MathSciNet updated?

The service is updated hourly, and newly cataloged items are posted within the hour after receipt and processing.

Facts from MathSciNet's own pages

Author identification: Authors have unique MR Author IDs, allowing users to search for an individual’s publications rather than relying on name strings. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Citation coverage limit: Reference citations are limited to items whose full reference lists are included in MathSciNet. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Citation export: Citations can be viewed or downloaded in EndNote, AMSRefs, BibTeX, and ASCII formats, with up to 50 items at a time. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Citation tools: MathSciNet provides citation information for journals, authors, articles, and reviews using matched reference lists collected from approximately 650 journals. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Classification: Most new items are classified according to the Mathematics Subject Classification. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Coverage: MathSciNet contains over 3.6 million items and more than 2.3 million direct links to original articles. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Free tools: Search MSC and Collaboration Distance are among the tools available without a MathSciNet subscription. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
New material: More than 125,000 new items and over 90,000 reviews are added to the database each year. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: MathSciNet is an electronic publication providing searchable reviews, abstracts, and bibliographic information for mathematical sciences literature. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Search features: The database includes publication, author, journal, author citation, and journal citation searches. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Support: The help page lists separate contacts for product functionality, reviewers, the in-house librarian, the Executive Editor, and subscriptions or consortia. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Trial: The AMS quickstart guide states that a 30-day free trial is available. · ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Updates: MathSciNet is updated hourly, and newly cataloged items are posted within the hour after receipt and processing. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026
Who it serves: The AMS describes MathSciNet as an authoritative gateway to the scholarly literature of mathematics, developed, edited, and published by the American Mathematical Society. · mathscinet.ams.org, 11 Oct 2026

Where MathSciNet stands on Freedom251

Academic Research Databases#15 of 35