Overview
JSTOR is a cornerstone of the global academic infrastructure, providing access to more than 12 million journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines. By 2026, JSTOR has fully integrated its 'JSTOR AI Research Assistant' into its core architecture. This system leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to allow researchers to query the entire database using natural language, effectively bypassing traditional keyword constraints. Unlike standard LLMs, JSTOR's AI synthesizes information solely from its verified, peer-reviewed corpus, virtually eliminating hallucinations in academic workflows. Its technical positioning in 2026 focuses on 'Constellation,' a specialized platform for text and data mining (TDM), which allows researchers to analyze massive datasets without requiring high-level programming skills. The platform serves as a bridge between traditional library sciences and modern data science, offering robust SSO integration, federated identity management, and standardized metadata exports. JSTOR remains a critical tool for institutional researchers and independent scholars alike, balancing open-access initiatives with sustainable subscription models for high-impact scholarly publishing.