Lean Library Firefox

Lean Library

By: Lean Library Add-on
The Lean Library extension is a free tool which assists your library in delivering their services directly into your research workflow in more ways than one!

Overview

Firefox Add-ons Store
Daily users
7,926 ▲ 114
Data as of 2026-09-04
Rating:
2.68
(68)
Version:
2026.9.1
Last updated: 2026-08-26
Download
Ranking
#883 ▼ 7
Overall
Category rank
#122
Other extensions

Features & Capabilities

The Lean Library extension is a free tool that integrates library services directly into your browser-based research workflow. With Lean Library Access, you’ll receive notifications when a site contains material your library can provide, and a single click redirects you to the content—no paywalls, no multiple logins.

Lean Library Open unlocks instant, legal access to millions of free academic papers, even if you’re not affiliated with an institution. Simply download the extension and select Lean Library Open. Futures is an upcoming service that will bring additional library features into your workflow through the extension.

User Growth & Download Statistics

Manifest V3 Add-on Education Content
By:
Lean Library
Daily users:
7,926 114
Rating:
2.68
(68)
Version:
2026.9.1 Last updated: 2026-08-26
Version code:
6439879
Creation date:
2017-02-22
Firefox add-on GUID:
{809ea8a3-a45d-41a2-9cb0-e7c7d7321db5}
Firefox add-on numeric ID:
787965
Weekly download count:
239
Firefox on Android:
No
Risk:
High risk impact High risk likelihood
Permissions:
Host permissions:
  • http://*/*
  • https://*/*
  • <all_urls>
Content scripts matches:
  • *
  • <all_urls>
Size:
11.87MB
Email:
su*****@leanlibrary.com
URLs:
Website ,Privacy policy
Full description:
See detailed description
Source:
Firefox Add-ons Store
Data ingested on:
2026-09-04
Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

# 883 ▼ 7
Other rankings
Upgrade to see more rankings

Other platforms

Chrome
Lean Library (v2026.9.2)
200,000 3.43 (142)
Edge
Lean Library (v2026.9.2)
87,824 3.40 (10)

For Developers

Monetize with App Pass Boost with Extension Booster

Contact the developer

Chrome-Stats does not own this Firefox add-on. Please use these information below to contact the Firefox add-on developer.
Developed by:
Lean Library
Firefox Add-ons Store
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/library_access/
Email:
su*****@leanlibrary.com
Website:
https://leanlibrary.com/

Permission Change History

2024-11-11: Version 2024.25.0 → 2024.26.4
Remove Permissions: webRequest
2024-01-30: Version 2023.30.0 → 2024.1.5
Add Permissions: webRequest
2023-10-09: Version 2023.25.2 → 2023.26.2
Remove Permissions: scripting
2023-08-29: Version 2023.4.1 → 2023.23.3
Add Host permissions: http://*/* https://*/* <all_urls>
Add Permissions: alarms activeTab scripting
Remove Permissions: webRequest http://*/* https://*/*

User Reviews

Users find Lean Library very useful for accessing university-licensed papers, but many report severe performance and stability problems. Common complaints: it slows or freezes browsing, runs on non-academic sites with unreliable disable controls, breaks some websites or other extensions, and has a clunkier, more intrusive UI than alternatives like Sciwheel.
Pros
  • Effectively finds versions of papers accessible through university library accounts, helping access paywalled academic content.
  • Useful research tool/shortcut to institution resources — saves time when it works.
  • Some users report reliable access to literature and easy institution sign-in when the extension loads properly.
Cons
  • Severe performance problems: slows browsing, causes pages or the browser to hang or freeze.
  • Always-on behavior and poor site controls — runs on non-academic sites, pops up where it shouldn’t, and disable switches are unreliable.
  • Bugs and instability: breaks some websites and interferes with other extensions; can get stuck on loading or have login/selection issues.
  • Clunky UI and feature bloat compared with predecessor (Sciwheel): saving citations takes more steps and overlays can be intrusive.
Recent reviews
Extension suddenly decided to keep opening thousands of tabs to the extension settings (page about giving permission to share more data or to uninstall the extension). Browser became completely unusable but at least the feeling of catching one of those computervirusses in the 2000's was fun ig
by Fi*****, 2026-08-26
The extension doesn't work on Windows and doesn't even open on Linux. Sent detailed error reports, never heard back. (The only way it still kinda works is via the old sciwheel extension on Chrome, but there's probably a good chance this will die, too.) SAGE really murdered this once great product. Now I have to switch to something else and lose all of my anntoations. 😭 I hate these careless business people.
by ch*****, 2026-06-05
View all user reviews ›

Is Lean Library Safe?

Risk impact
Risk impact measures the level of extra permissions an extension has access to. A low risk impact extension cannot do much harms, whereas a high risk impact extension can do a lot of damage like stealing your password, bypassing your security settings, and accessing your personal data. High risk impact extensions are not necessarily malicious. However, if they do turn malicious, they can be very harmful.

Lean Library requires some sensitive permissions that could impact your browser and data security. Exercise caution before installing.

Risk impact analysis details
  • Critical Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
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Risk likelihood
Risk likelihood measures the probability that a Firefox add-on may turn malicious. This is determined by the publisher and the Firefox add-on reputation on Firefox Add-ons Store, the amount of time the Firefox add-on has been around, and other signals about the Firefox add-on. Our algorithms are not perfect, and are subject to change as we discover new ways to detect malicious extensions. We recommend that you always exercise caution when installing a Firefox add-on.

Lean Library may not be trust-worthy. Avoid installing if possible unless you really trust this publisher.

Risk likelihood analysis details
  • High This extension was recently updated in the past month. New updates may not be stable or safe.
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