Library Genesis in Numbers: Mapping the Underground Flow of Knowledge

Bodó, B. (2018).Library Genesis in Numbers: Mapping the Underground Flow of Knowledge. In J. Karaganis (Ed.), Shadow Libraries: Access to Knowledge in Global Higher Education (pp. 53-79). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.

30 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2015 Last revised: 31 Jul 2018

See all articles by Balázs Bodó

Balázs Bodó

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR)

Date Written: December 12, 2014

Abstract

This paper first reconstructs the growth of the biggest piratical online scientific text collection through an examination of changes in its catalogue over time, and evaluates how much of the catalogue is accessible through legal alternatives. Then, we discuss the demand for books on these sites, based on log data acquired from one of the mirrors of this shadow library. We take a look at what is being downloaded from the library and by whom. The third part connects the supply and demand discussions to reflect on the wider impact of these shadow libraries on libraries, higher education institutions, publishers and authors.

Keywords: piracy, shadow libraries, Library Genesis, scientific publishing

JEL Classification: O3, O17

Suggested Citation

Bodó, Balázs, Library Genesis in Numbers: Mapping the Underground Flow of Knowledge (December 12, 2014). Bodó, B. (2018).Library Genesis in Numbers: Mapping the Underground Flow of Knowledge. In J. Karaganis (Ed.), Shadow Libraries: Access to Knowledge in Global Higher Education (pp. 53-79). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2616633.

Balázs Bodó (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR) ( email )

Rokin 84
Amsterdam, 1012 KX
Netherlands

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