Alexandria MCP Server
by the-40-thievesio.github.The-40-Thieves/alexandria-mcpv11.0.0
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Maintained33d ago
Install Alexandria MCP server
Install in Claude Code
claude mcp add alexandria -e OPENAI_API_KEY='<openai-api-key>' -e ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY='<alexandria-api-key>' -e CORE_API_KEY='<core-api-key>' -e COURTLISTENER_API_KEY='<courtlistener-api-key>' -e GOVINFO_API_KEY='<govinfo-api-key>' -e GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY='<google-books-api-key>' -e GITHUB_TOKEN='<github-token>' -e NASA_ADS_API_KEY='<nasa-ads-api-key>' -e EUROPEANA_API_KEY='<europeana-api-key>' -e SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY='<semantic-scholar-api-key>' -- npx -y @the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcpInstall in Cursor
{
"mcpServers": {
"alexandria": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcp"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "<openai-api-key>",
"ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY": "<alexandria-api-key>",
"CORE_API_KEY": "<core-api-key>",
"COURTLISTENER_API_KEY": "<courtlistener-api-key>",
"GOVINFO_API_KEY": "<govinfo-api-key>",
"GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY": "<google-books-api-key>",
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "<github-token>",
"NASA_ADS_API_KEY": "<nasa-ads-api-key>",
"EUROPEANA_API_KEY": "<europeana-api-key>",
"SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY": "<semantic-scholar-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project).
Install in Claude Desktop
{
"mcpServers": {
"alexandria": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcp"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "<openai-api-key>",
"ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY": "<alexandria-api-key>",
"CORE_API_KEY": "<core-api-key>",
"COURTLISTENER_API_KEY": "<courtlistener-api-key>",
"GOVINFO_API_KEY": "<govinfo-api-key>",
"GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY": "<google-books-api-key>",
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "<github-token>",
"NASA_ADS_API_KEY": "<nasa-ads-api-key>",
"EUROPEANA_API_KEY": "<europeana-api-key>",
"SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY": "<semantic-scholar-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Settings → Developer → Edit Config (claude_desktop_config.json), then restart.
Install in VS Code
{
"servers": {
"alexandria": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcp"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "<openai-api-key>",
"ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY": "<alexandria-api-key>",
"CORE_API_KEY": "<core-api-key>",
"COURTLISTENER_API_KEY": "<courtlistener-api-key>",
"GOVINFO_API_KEY": "<govinfo-api-key>",
"GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY": "<google-books-api-key>",
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "<github-token>",
"NASA_ADS_API_KEY": "<nasa-ads-api-key>",
"EUROPEANA_API_KEY": "<europeana-api-key>",
"SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY": "<semantic-scholar-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
Install in Windsurf
{
"mcpServers": {
"alexandria": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcp"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "<openai-api-key>",
"ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY": "<alexandria-api-key>",
"CORE_API_KEY": "<core-api-key>",
"COURTLISTENER_API_KEY": "<courtlistener-api-key>",
"GOVINFO_API_KEY": "<govinfo-api-key>",
"GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY": "<google-books-api-key>",
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "<github-token>",
"NASA_ADS_API_KEY": "<nasa-ads-api-key>",
"EUROPEANA_API_KEY": "<europeana-api-key>",
"SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY": "<semantic-scholar-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
Configuration
| Variable | Required | Secret | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPENAI_API_KEY | — | yes | OpenAI key for routing (library_ask), synthesis (library_answer, library_research), and embeddings (library_ingest). Search and read tools work without it. |
| ALEXANDRIA_BASE_URL | — | — | OpenAI-compatible gateway base URL shared by every LLM role (router, synth, research, embeddings, rerank). Falls back to https://api.openai.com/v1. |
| ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY | — | yes | API key paired with ALEXANDRIA_BASE_URL. Falls back to OPENAI_API_KEY. |
| CORE_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks the core source (CORE, 57M+ open access papers). Free key from core.ac.uk/services/api. |
| COURTLISTENER_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks the courtlistener source (US federal and state court opinions). Free key from courtlistener.com. |
| GOVINFO_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks govinfo (Congressional Record, Federal Register, US Code); also accepted by congress and regulations. Free key from api.data.gov. |
| GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks the googlebooks source (40M+ books). Free key from the Google Cloud Console (Books API). |
| GITHUB_TOKEN | — | yes | Unlocks githubsearch and githubmcp (GitHub code search); optional for ghsa and openiti. Public-repo read scope is enough. |
| NASA_ADS_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks the nasaads source (NASA Astrophysics Data System). Free key from ui.adsabs.harvard.edu. |
| EUROPEANA_API_KEY | — | yes | Unlocks the europeana source (50M+ European cultural heritage items). Free key from apis.europeana.eu. |
| SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY | — | yes | Optional for semanticscholar and library_recommend; raises the rate limit. Free key from semanticscholar.org/product/api. |
Freshness
Maintained — last maintenance signal 33d ago. The newest of the signals below sets the band.
Last commit (default branch)
2026-09-07 · 33d ago · GitHub
Latest release
2026-09-05 · 35d ago · GitHub · v11.0.0
Package published
no data · npm/PyPI
Registry entry updated
2026-09-05 · 35d ago · official registry · v11.0.0
FAQ
›How do I install the Alexandria MCP server in Claude Code?
Run: claude mcp add alexandria -e OPENAI_API_KEY='<openai-api-key>' -e ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY='<alexandria-api-key>' -e CORE_API_KEY='<core-api-key>' -e COURTLISTENER_API_KEY='<courtlistener-api-key>' -e GOVINFO_API_KEY='<govinfo-api-key>' -e GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY='<google-books-api-key>' -e GITHUB_TOKEN='<github-token>' -e NASA_ADS_API_KEY='<nasa-ads-api-key>' -e EUROPEANA_API_KEY='<europeana-api-key>' -e SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY='<semantic-scholar-api-key>' -- npx -y @the-40-thieves/alexandria-mcp. For Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop and Windsurf, use the install tabs above.
›Does Alexandria require an API key?
Yes. It expects OPENAI_API_KEY, ALEXANDRIA_API_KEY, CORE_API_KEY, COURTLISTENER_API_KEY, GOVINFO_API_KEY, GOOGLE_BOOKS_API_KEY, GITHUB_TOKEN, NASA_ADS_API_KEY, EUROPEANA_API_KEY, SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY, of which 10 are secrets.
›Can I use Alexandria as a remote (hosted) MCP server?
No hosted endpoint is published; it runs locally over stdio.
›Is Alexandria in the official MCP registry?
Yes, as io.github.The-40-Thieves/alexandria-mcp.