Aug 11, 2023 |
6 Mins Read
9 Best Alternatives to Z Library: Consume Research Seamlessly on These Platforms
Z-library is an e-book and journal database that has sparked controversy, conversation, and reform since its launch in 2009. After countless lawsuits and domain seizures, the rise and fall of Z-library have allowed many non-pirated alternative digital libraries to emerge and provide students and researchers with legal content gateways. The steady increase of these non-restricted alternatives has elevated the dissemination of quality research globally for students, researchers and lifelong learners to benefit from. In this blog, we uncover legal and safe academic platforms that are great alternatives to Z library. These platforms do not violate copyright or privacy laws and offer a far better navigation experience with advanced features to aid research consumption and comprehension. Websites like Z-Library Project Gutenberg This project initially started as a volunteer-driven effort to organise and digitise the literary content, it features more historic books for which US copyright laws have expired. Since its establishment, it has grown to offer over 60,000 literature and academic resources from an array of subjects and areas of study. The platform is completely free of cost and offers the available material in different formats to ease research consumption and dissemination. The Open Library Established in 2008, this library is a partnership between California State Library and Kahle-Austin Foundation and is an initiative overseen by Internet Archive. The Open Library specialises in e-books and offers over 20 million academic and literary sources to browse through and download without any restrictions or paywalls. The main goal of this library is to “create one web page for every book ever published” in an effort to make all library material accessible by anybody, anywhere. Libby - Overdrive Overdrive is one of the leading digital reading platforms globally, the organisation disseminates reading material within 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries. It is a very secure method of downloading and utilising ebooks and requires a student ID or public library pass to access. The platform houses everything from academic essays, university press books and freshly released novels. Overdrive also operates Libby, which is a new app under their umbrella that allows readers to borrow ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from local libraries, it stands to be accessible for all ages and offers a very wide range of reading material to encourage reading from a young age. Zendy Launched in 2019, Zendy offers unrestricted academic research across all mediums like ebooks, journals, articles, case studies and much more. The platform was launched with the intention to bring diversity and global collaboration across various fields of scientific research; to ease research discoverability and consumption Zendy also hosts AI-powered features, advanced search and filtering options, personalized lists, and automatic citations. LibreTexts This is an organisation that is run by the University of California, Davis. The platform hosts free courses and textbooks in an effort to make academia accessible worldwide, LibreTexts is centred around the value of providing open education resources in an ethical and legal way. Arguably, the best offering of this platform is the interactive visuals that can be enabled when reading a piece of research; this feature was launched to ease comprehension and aid visual learners. Standard Ebooks This digital library offers free ebooks that have been thoroughly and professionally typeset and designed. It features a user-friendly browsing and reading experience and offers a wide range of content; everything from novels to academic research. Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-based project that formats, typesets, proofreads and corrects reading material and creates new editions that are compatible with e-reader technology. The website is not only widely accessible but also easy to use. Open Textbook Library Run by the University of Minnesota and supported by Open Education Network, this platform covers public domain and open access textbooks. It allows users to download, edit and disseminate textbooks at no cost. With a current offering of over 1,200 textbooks across several areas of study, Open Textbook Library has been gathering academic content for over 10 years in the industry and is a well-reputed resource. HathiTrust Founded in 2008, HathiTrust is an esteemed collaboration between research libraries and academics worldwide. The platform offers over 17 million digitised academic materials and access to some of the most prestigious libraries globally, like the Bodleian Library in Oxford and original digitised collections from the Harvard University Library. It is a valuable academic platform that houses research content across an array of disciplines without paywalls and restrictions. SciHub Launched in 2011, SciHub is a resource that provides free access to scientific and academic research papers. It was established with the goal to eliminate all barriers in science to foster global collaboration, promote open access practices and provide academic research to individuals regardless of their institutional affiliations, financial situations and geographic location. The website hosts over 80 million academic research papers across an array of disciplines. ul, ol { margin-top: 5px !important; margin-bottom: 5px !important; } p, ul, li, h1, h2, h4 { word-break: normal !important; }
Understanding the Growth of Digital Libraries: Benefits, Challenges & Trajectory
In the age of boundless information and technological advancement, the landscape of academia has seen a significant emergence of digital libraries. As the digital frontier expands, so does the potential of these databases to cater to the evolving requirements of scholars, researchers, and students worldwide. In this blog post, we explore the remarkable growth and purpose behind digital research libraries, unearthing how they are reshaping the way we access, curate, and interact with information in our pursuit of wisdom and understanding. By definition, digital libraries provide readers with online access to a wide range of resources; these platforms are often utilised by researchers and students to track the latest breakthroughs, discoveries and developments within their respective disciplines. The true appeal of digitised libraries is their ever-evolving nature, from multimedia content to data visualisation tools; digitised information and research have significantly advanced content consumption in the sphere of academia. Benefits of Digital Libraries Accessibility Digital research libraries can provide access to rare and out-of-print materials paired with features that are designed for user convenience such as advanced search filters, AI-powered tools and generated citations. Furthermore, the range of resources is not only limited to books but expands to journal articles, magazine & newspaper articles, case studies, reports and much more. Digital libraries expand the reach of academic research because accessibility is not limited to specific locations, unlike traditional libraries. Preservation of Materials Digitising older academic research ensures the preservation of fragile and rare materials. Traditional libraries hold materials that are vulnerable to physical deterioration and digitised libraries allow these materials to be protected from handling and environmental damage over time. Personalisation Digital libraries are engineered with intelligent algorithms that recommend and filter content tailored to your research consumption patterns, search history and discipline. This allows for easier navigation across vast databases to find academic research relevant to your study area. Collaborative Learning Some digital library databases are designed with social media-like features that allow researchers to review research papers and join communities. The integration of these features allows for collaboration between researchers which demonstrates their information literacy, and digital skills while also expanding researcher network and impact. Single Sign In Digital libraries provide access to a wide range of scholarly literature through a single pair of credentials rather than searching and accessing them separately within traditional libraries. Impact of Digital Research Libraries on Research & Education Digital research libraries have had a significant impact on advancing research culture in higher education as these databases aid in understanding intellectual growth, research productivity, planning and identification of research that could be in demand; allowing students and researchers to bridge the gaps quickly. Furthermore, The fast access to resources accompanied by powerful research tools will enable researchers to be efficient and thorough with their secondary research. The digitisation of educational materials has also increased technological literacy through immersive and interactive learning modules. Through this digitisation, students and researchers have been at the forefront of these platforms’ development; the aspect of increased accessibility comes from not only worldwide access but also student and institutional discounts. Digital research libraries have had an imperative impact on the open-access movement in the academic realm due to the way in which they have escalated accessibility, inclusivity and affordability. Challenges of Digital Research Libraries Copyright agreements - this is a long and expensive process that requires technological libraries to navigate complex legal issues and it can result in the library not obtaining all the required resources. Resource management - a digitised library has to ensure that the content available on its website has adequate discoverability and organisational structure that is both intuitive and user-friendly. Technological infrastructure - these technological libraries have to invest significantly to establish accurate and standardised metadata which requires skilled staff Quality Control - to digitise and disseminate academic research, the library would have to also invest in a team of experts to ensure the accuracy of digitally translated research. Future of Digital Research Libraries In 2013, Emerald Insights predicted digital research libraries will offer access to large databases. As of 2023, there has been significant growth in the number of digital libraries and their evolving offerings. Moving forward, academia and digitised libraries are expected to technologically evolve by integrating AI automation to ease the consumption of information. Moreover, there may be a rise in the integration of AR & VR methods to enable immersive learning and provide interactive content to better aid visual learners and researchers. Furthermore, with the current growth of online learning platforms, the realm of research may witness an increase in partnerships between digital libraries and online learning tools to provide an array of resources seamlessly. Additionally, open access resources will play an essential role, because libraries that offer open access alternatives usually generate more traffic and disseminate content on a larger scale. The most crucial role digitised libraries may arguably play in the future is enhancing global collaboration and interoperability, allowing research communities to share resources and insights on a global scale, potentially bringing institutions together. Frequently Asked Questions What are the advantages of Digital Libraries for students? The main advantage of digital libraries from a student’s perspective is not being tied down to one specific library or location. Students can access academic research from anywhere in the world through a few clicks, this also eases the process of researching by developing content discoverability; students can find resources much quicker. Furthermore, digital libraries aid students’ technological literacy. What is the primary purpose of Digital Libraries? The primary purpose of digital libraries is to disseminate content faster and easier, while also providing global access to rare and out-of-print materials. The digitisation of academic research has allowed the general global population and research communities to collaborate and share scientific research easily. Discover an array of academic resources now on Zendy where you can research worry-free.
Struggling to find research papers? Try this fast and easy way on Zendy!
Sick of wasting hours jumping between databases trying to find relevant research papers? Discover Zendy, the fastest and easiest way to discover over 85 million academic resources on one intuitive platform. While research brings valuable discoveries, the very process of research discoverability can be considered challenging. Needing to access an array of databases and being met with paywalls and other restrictions can cause a researcher’s productivity to significantly decline. We value your time as a student, researcher, professor and lifelong learner hence we’ve built an intuitive platform that is an easy and effective method of conducting research. Zendy houses millions of journal articles, books and proceedings across a wide range of disciplines that are all accessible for free. Try Zendy Open Ease of Location & Accessibility Undoubtedly, the open access movement has made significant strides in the world of research and academia. However, it is still challenging to locate relevant research papers across a number of open access databases and libraries without accessing a number of third-party websites. On Zendy, locating relevant research is not only simple but also quick. The platform utilises advanced filtering and intelligent search algorithms to deliver personalised search results. Furthermore, the academic online library is designed with specific features to make locating, reading and consuming research much easier. Zendy’s latest AI-powered features which are summarisation and key phrase highlighting, have both been implemented to efficiently give readers a gist of the lengthy and informative research papers. It doesn’t stop there, Zendy also provides reading, favorites, and history lists to ease the process of re-locating previously visited research papers. Find Research Papers Dissemination of Quality Research As an academic library, Zendy deeply recognises the importance of quality research that is available and accessible for students, researchers and professionals. In the current sphere of misinformation, evidence-based research is imperative for informed decision-making. We aim to make this simple, our academic library houses research content across all major disciplines within journals, proceedings, e-books, articles and much more. Discover Top Research Striving For Equality Within Research To promote and implement equality in the field of research, building easier access to scientific research is important. Moreover, creating and maintaining legal gateways to access research is beneficial for readers and researchers alike, this not only boosts the reach of the study but also allows for significant improvement with key contributions from emerging regions. Zendy stands as a safe and legal gateway to provide access to scientific research to anyone, anywhere. Get unlimited Access
Get to Know the 5 Influential Women Who Revolutionised Science
Various branches of Science have spearheaded the latest advancements we witness in our world. The field of Science is ever-evolving because researchers and scientists work rigorously; churning out compelling developments to ensure that life on Earth thrives in terms of longevity and universally beneficial conditions. While Science evolves, it has not always been the most welcoming field to diversity; even now, women and minorities struggle to break through scientific fields in several parts of the world. While setting foot in a research laboratory in itself is a recognised achievement, this blog highlights the work of 5 influential women who trailblazed their scientific disciplines at a time when their very presence was not accepted in these settings. Katherine Johnson - Mathematician As a pioneering Mathematician, Katherine Johnson was one of the first African American women to work for NASA. Her role at NASA entailed calculating and analysing the flight paths of NASA space crafts. She is best known for generating the revolutionary calculations that enabled the first Americans to launch into the Earth’s orbit and set foot on the moon in 1962. This involved a complex networking system that linked worldwide communications and tracking stations to the IBM computers in Washington. The calculations that ran through the computers were thoroughly analysed and double-checked by Katherine Johnson because the astronauts were wary of trusting machines. In 2015, at the age of 97, Katherine Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in an effort to recognise her pivotal contributions to NASA’s first human space flight. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson - Doctor/Physician Making significant strides in Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first female doctor in England. She practised Medicine when women were not allowed to, and she spent 6 months at Middlesex Hospital and had to leave when male students began to protest against her on the basis of her gender. However, she received an honours certificate in Chemistry & Material media due to her incredible scores. After applying to several Medical schools and being rejected on grounds of gender, she was finally accepted into the Society of Apothecaries. In early 1865, Elizabeth went on to establish her very own practice. However, the general public was reluctant to be treated by a female doctor so her patients were often poor or female. This changed in late 1865 when the cholera epidemic caused a demand for doctors and the traffic at her practice showed a steady increase. In 1870, Elizabeth found out that the University of Sorbonne in Paris was welcoming female admissions into their medical programmes; this encouraged Elizabeth to learn French and attain her medical degree to become a qualified doctor. Finally, in 1874, she recognised how scarce female doctors were in Britain and how beneficial they were to treating female medical conditions. This led to her co-founding the London School of Medicine for Women which was the first teaching hospital for women. Chein-Shuing Wu - Physicist Nicknamed the “First Lady of Physics'' - Chein-Shuing Wu was a Chinese-American immigrant that grew to be recognised as a pioneer in the field of Physics. She is widely recognised for the Matthan Project which led to the creation and development of nuclear weapons in war research; however, her most notable work is the Wu experiment which proved that identical particles do not always behave and react in the same manner. In 1978, Wu was awarded the inaugural Wolf Prize in Physics for her revolutionary discovery. Rosalind Franklin - Scientist The very photographer of the famous “Photo 51” - Rosalind Franklin is now widely known for discovering the double helix structure of DNA and RNA by utilising X-ray crystallography. While her impact on Science is critical, the credit for discovery was given to James Watson and Francis Crick who were her male colleagues at the time. Due to the lack of recognition, Rosalind Franklin moved on to Birkbeck College and thoroughly studied the molecular structures of viruses, coal and graphite. Her most notable work was on the structure of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus which enabled her to travel the globe and deliver seminars about the coal & virus molecular structure. Marie Curie - Physicist & Chemist Taking the world of Physics & Chemistry by storm, the discoveries and contributions of Marie Curie are invaluable. She conducted crucial research on radioactivity and discovered 2 chemical elements, radium and polonium. Marie also led the first research project on the impact of radiation treatment on tumours, her generous work specialising in cancer research resulted in her spearheading the Curie Institute which was formerly known as the Radium Institute. The establishment is the leading medical research centre in Paris which focuses on cancer research and radiation therapy, now, it has also expanded to cell biology and biophysics. Furthermore, Marie Curie is the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice and the only person to have won the esteemed award in 2 scientific categories, those being Physics and Chemistry. Read research and breakthrough discoveries from pioneering women in science on Zendy now.
See The Top Reads of June 2023
Our monthly Top Reads series is here! We showcase five intriguing research papers from various disciplines that have significantly contributed to their respective fields. This past June brought about research papers that highlighted breakthroughs and discoveries that have emerged from the world of academia. From the realms of psychology to aerospace, from healthcare to economics, these papers encompass a wide range of topics and offer unique insights into the ever-evolving landscape of research. The Psychology of Money and Public Finance This book consists of the primary papers written by Günter Schmölders, who specialised and pioneered in economic psychology. In the 1950s, Schmölders conducted socio-economic research at the University of Cologne in Germany. The book dives into the financial mindset and responsibilities of a private household and the philosophy of an entrepreneur, while also touching on the psychology of taxation, public finance and macroeconomics. Read more here: The Psychology of Money and Public Finance Software Performance Monitoring: An Approach for Aerospace This journal article proposes the implementation of software applications for aerospace manufacturing firms. The article highlights how critical softwares are for the aerospace industry and proposes a monitoring method based on traditional business intelligence architecture. The researchers also conduct a case study that utilises secondary research and interviews with aerospace professionals. Read more here: Software Performance Monitoring: An Approach for Aerospace Examining the Co-relation Between Academic Performance and Antisocial Behaviour in Teenagers This study profoundly examines the role of schools and the causes of anti-social behaviour by comparing these factors to teenagers’ academic performance. The sample consisted of 127 students aged 13-15 from different schools across the US. The primary data suggested a negative relation between antisocial behaviour and academic performance and finds a significant difference between male and female academic performance regardless of their involvement in anti-social activity and behaviour. Read more here: Examining the Co-relation Between Academic Performance and Antisocial Behaviour in Teenagers Exercise Dose & Diabetes Risk in Overweight and Obese Children This article details an experiment conducted on overweight and obese children to see how aerobics training affected their weight loss journey. This long-term study ran from 2003 to 2007 and tested different doses of aerobics on children across other races and genders. The children were randomly assigned a low or high dose of aerobics or a controlled condition of their usual physical activity. The study found that after 13 weeks, aerobics training improved their fitness. Read more here: Exercise Dose & Diabetes Risk in Overweight and Obese Children Genomics in Healthcare This article discusses how significantly genomic technology has advanced biomedical research. It argues that every medical speciality is affected by genomic advancements while highlighting the positive impact of genomic breakthroughs and several applications across healthcare. Genomics is a branch of biology focused on the structure, function, evolution, mapping and editing of genomes; in the context of healthcare, this allows professionals to identify genetic alterations that could be responsible for inherited or acquired diseases which potentially determines routes of treatment. Read more here: Genomics in Healthcare Discover millions of e-books, journal articles, proceedings and more on Zendy now.