wolffyluna

I had been told that researchers and academics are generally delighted when someone emails them asking for a copy of one of their papers. But I never quite-- believed that? Like, I was pretty sure that asking for a copy of a paper was somehow an imposition. Or maybe some researchers were super excited by it, but they were the vocal ones, and the rest just rolled their eyes.

Apparently though, the stereotype is true.

I got stuck while researching earlier this week. I could find papers that were about the thing I was researching, but my university didn't subscribe to those journals. (Well, I could find a paper in Spanish in a journal my university subscribed to, but I don't speak Spanish so that wasn't particularly helpful in my case :P)

I looked up the authors' emails. I nervously opened my email program. "The worst that could happen is they say now," I said to myself, as visions of Proper Geologists glaring at the impertinent email from an undergrad from a university on the other side of the world, wanting them to dig out a copy of their paper. I closed my eyes and hit send.

And less than twelve hourse later, two have them replied. "I know you were only looking for one paper, but would you like three? I'd give you my thesis as well, but it's currently confidential." "Oh, it's lovely to see more people working on that suite. What's your research on, kiddo?"

So. Turns out researchers do seem to like people asking for copies of their papers.