Blog - Libguides at Copenhagen Business School

By Mette Bechmann & Liv Bjerge Laursen

Are you an R or Python user? And are you planning to undertake bibliographic work? Whether you are conducting literature reviews or citation analyses, or exploring emerging trends, accessing bibliographic databases via APIs can prove very valuable.

APIs are available from many bibliographic databases and serve as digital bridges between a researcher and the data. Some APIs require a subscription for the bibliographic database, others do not.

For example, a subscription-based, classic bibliographic database like Scopus offers a range of APIs, many of which are designed for research use. The same does OpenAlex, which is a subscription-free, open-source bibliographic database. Elsevier and other academic publishers offer APIs as well.

The benefits of using an API compared to traditional extraction methods include access to larger volumes of metadata than would be available from web interfaces. With an API, researchers can also tailor their queries to specific research needs, in much the same way as an advanced query in Scopus.

You can filter results by publication date, author, keywords, and more, to make sure that you find precisely what you are looking for.
Below you will find guides to and general information about APIs from Elsevier and OpenAlex:

Elsevier Developer Portal (Scopus and ScienceDirect)
OpenAlex

Recent Posts

Introducing Overton: Connecting Research and Policies

By Claus Rosenkrantz Hansen CBS researchers now have access to Overton, the world’s largest database of policy documents and grey literature. Overton tracks more than 21 million policies and grey literature documents and automatically links them to the research they cite, helping you discover impact beyond journal citations. It is ideal for discovering policy citations, studying policy texts, and understanding the policymaking landscape. The database covers sources from 193 countries/territories in 74 languages (as of August 2025). Why it matters for your workImpact: Identify where your publications are cited in policy, which could be useful for applications, evaluations, and impact statements. Systematize grey literature: Bring hard-to-find reports and guides with transparent provenance into your reviews. Stay on top of developments: Save searches, set up email alerts, tag and highlight results. Data access & integration: Use the REST API to export and analyze Overton data in your workflows. Use the quick-start and reference guides to get started with Overton. Join us for an online introduction to Overton Sign up for one of the webinars Discover how policy documents shape your research impact (1 hour) in November and find out how to make the most of Overton. You will learn how to:Browse and search Overton effectivelyTrack citations of academic research in policyIntegrate grey literature into your work And of course, you will also get the chance to get any questions you may have answeredThe webinars are hosted by Overton and CBS Library & Academic ServicesChoose between the following dates (CET) and sign up via the links:Monday, 3 November 2025, 10:00–11:00Friday, 7 November 2025, 10:00–11:00 Getting started with OvertonAccess OvertonIf you have any questions, please contact metrics.lib@cbs.dk...

Full-Text Access in Google Scholar With CBS Library Links

By Mette Bechmann If you use Google Scholar to search for research literature, you can make your search results even more powerful by activating CBS Library Fulltext links. With a simple tick of a box, you can connect your Google Scholar account to the digital resources provided by CBS Library & Academic Services, allowing you to access full-text articles in those cases where CBS has a publisher subscription. Once activated, a “CBS Fulltext” link will appear next to your search results. One click of your mouse will take you directly to the full-text document via CBS Library, saving you time and ensuring legal and reliable access to the content that you need. How to set it up: Open Google Scholar Click the burger menu (☰) in the top left corner Select Settings and Library links In the search box, type in Copenhagen Business School Tick the box next to Copenhagen Business School - CBS Fulltext Save You are now ready to access CBS Library resources directly through Google Scholar. If you are working off campus, remember to use the VPN connection or log in to any CBS service before accessing full-text articles. In this way, Google Scholar will recognize your CBS affiliation. ...

Course Literature Spring Semester 2026

By Liv Bjerge LaursenTo make sure that course literature is always available to your students, we review every reading list submitted to Academic Books as well as all lists created in Course Readings on Canvas. We then go on to purchase print copies of items not available from our collections already and place them in the dedicated Course Collection. Where possible, we buy e-copies for our general collection. Feel free at any time to submit additional requests for the Course Collection if you wish to suggest supplementary readings for your students.If you are not already using Course Readings in Canvas, this might be the perfect opportunity to get started and join the growing number of CBS faculty who want to take advantage of the technology to create, share, and share reading lists without hassle and to stay on top of copyright requirements at the same time. With Course Readings, your students will get easy, uniform, and equitable access to content, and you will never have to check and double-check links again, while at the same time you will be able to monitor your student cohort´s use of the literature.Check out our guide: Using Course Readings in Canvas, where you will find more information and watch a short introductory video. If you would like help to get started with Course Readings, please contact your liaison librarian, who will be more than happy to help. ...

Faculty tip: Make the library work for you

By Liv Bjerge Laursen As faculty at CBS, your time is precious. Between teaching, publishing, and administrative responsibilities, there’s rarely a moment to explore how the library could support your research and teaching. Many faculty members don’t realize the range of resources and personalised services available, or how much easier their work could become with the right guidance. Have you ever felt stuck… …trying to locate the right articles, set up a search strategy, or choose the best tool for your research? Or wondered about copyright rules for teaching materials, open access options, or how to register your publications? These tasks can be time-consuming, and without support, these issues can slow down your research, affect the visibility of your work, and add unnecessary stress. That’s where your Liaison Librarian comes in. Every department at CBS has a dedicated librarian ready to help you. We can assist you with: Search support: Learn how to build effective search strategies and navigate databases with confidence. Get advice on using AI tools critically in your searches Tool training: To subscription-based tools like Mendeley (reference management), NVivo (qualitative analysis), Qualtrics (surveys), Konch (transcription), and financial data tools. Stay updated: Set up alerts for journals and topics relevant to your field. Publishing guidance: Get tips on finding a good outlet for your research, open access, and copyright for both research and teaching. Research registration & data management: Connect with our in-house experts for tailored support. Whether you are a new PhD student, a seasoned professor, or part of the administrative staff, your Liaison Librarian is here to make your work smoother and more efficient. Reach out to your Liaison Librarian and discover how the library can be your strategic partner in research, teaching, and publishing. ...

API Access to Bibliographic Data

Leave a comment