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JSTOR

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Type	Digital library

JSTOR (short for Journal Storage) is a digital library founded in 1995. It provides access to thousands of academic journals, books, and primary sources across a wide range of disciplines. JSTOR is a service of Ithaka Harbors, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that aims to help the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways.

History

JSTOR was conceived by William G. Bowen, then-president of Princeton University, in response to the increasing costs of academic journal subscriptions and the need for libraries to store physical copies. The service was launched in 1995 with the goal of digitizing back issues of academic journals and making them available online. Initially, JSTOR focused on economics and history journals, but it has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines.

Content and Access

JSTOR provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines. The content is sourced from over 1,200 publishers and includes both current and archival materials. Access to JSTOR is typically provided through institutional subscriptions, such as those held by universities and libraries. However, JSTOR also offers a limited number of free articles to individual users each month through its "Register & Read" program.

Collections

JSTOR's collections are organized into several categories:

• Arts & Sciences: This is the largest collection, covering a wide range of disciplines including history, economics, sociology, and political science.
• Business & Economics: Focused on business, economics, and related fields.
• Life Sciences: Includes journals in the fields of biology, ecology, and health sciences.
• Mathematics & Statistics: Covers mathematics, statistics, and related disciplines.
• Language & Literature: Focuses on literary studies, linguistics, and related fields.

Technology

JSTOR uses a sophisticated digital platform to provide access to its content. The platform supports full-text searching, citation linking, and the ability to download articles in PDF format. JSTOR also provides tools for researchers to organize and share their findings, such as the "MyJSTOR" account feature.

Impact and Criticism

JSTOR has had a significant impact on academic research by making scholarly materials more accessible. It has been praised for its role in preserving academic journals and providing a stable platform for accessing them. However, JSTOR has also faced criticism for its subscription model, which can be expensive for institutions and limits access for individuals without institutional affiliations.

Also see

• Project MUSE
• Google Scholar
• PubMed
• Digital library
• Open access