How do I install the Bib Read skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add mearman/bib-read in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Bib Read skill do?

Read and display bibliography entries with formatting options. Query specific entries by ID, author, or other criteria. Use when the user asks to show, display, view, or read bibliography entries. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Bib Read safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Bib Read?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Bib Read free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Bib Read?

Mearman (@mearman) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Bib Read by mearman — Agent Skill

Name: Bib Read
Author: Mearman

File contents

bib-read

Read and display bibliography entries in a human-readable format.

Usage

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts input.bib [--id=<id>]

Options

--id=<string> - Show only entry with this ID

Examples

Display all entries:

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts refs.bib

Display specific entry:

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts refs.bib --id=smith2024

Output Format

Each entry is displayed with key information:

[smith2024] article-journal
  Authors: Smith, John
  Title: Machine Learning in Biology
  Year: 2024

[jones2023] book
  Authors: Jones, Jane
  Title: Introduction to AI
  Year: 2023

Total: 2 entries

Use Cases

Quick lookup:

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts refs.bib --id=important2024

Browse all entries:

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts refs.bib | less

Count entries:

npx tsx ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/read.ts refs.bib | grep "Total:"

Notes

Format is auto-detected
Output is human-readable (not machine-parseable)
For filtering by author/year, use bib-filter instead
For full entry details, open file in editor or convert to JSON

Frequently asked questions

Bib Read