Is WebCite Still Accepting New Archiving Requests?

No. WebCite's own site states: "We are currently not accepting archiving requests." The archival state and snapshots of websites archived with WebCite in the past can still be accessed and cited, so existing WebCite links in published work remain usable. If you need to archive a webpage you are about to cite, you must use another service or follow your publisher's instructions for saving a local copy.

What WebCite Was Built For

WebCite is an on-demand archiving system for web references — cited webpages, websites, and other internet-accessible digital objects. It was used by authors, editors, and publishers of scholarly papers and books to keep cited web material available to future readers. It was formerly a member of the International Internet Preservation Consortium.

The problem it addresses is documented on its own site: authors increasingly cite webpages that can "disappear" overnight. One study published in Science found that 13% of internet references in scholarly articles were inactive after only 27 months. Cited pages can also change, so readers may see something different from what the citing author saw. A WebCite-enhanced reference solves this by pairing the original live URL with a link to an archived copy, exactly as the citing author saw it.

What Still Works Today

If a paper you are reading or editing cites a WebCite link, that link should still resolve to the archived snapshot. Readers and editors do not need to do anything differently for existing archives.

What to Do If You Need a New Archive

Because WebCite is closed to new requests, you need a substitute before you cite a live webpage. The general requirements are:

1. Capture the page as you saw it. Save a local copy (PDF or full-page screenshot) at the time of access, as many editors and publishers now request.
2. Create a stable archived link. Use a web archiving service that produces a permanent URL for the snapshot.
3. Check your publisher's policy. Some publishers specify which archiving services they accept, or require the local copy to be deposited alongside the manuscript.
4. Cite both. Follow the WebCite pattern: original live URL plus the archived copy link, so readers can reach the material even if the live page disappears or changes.

When comparing alternatives, the two questions that matter most are whether the service generates a stable, citable link and whether your target publisher or journal recognizes it. Confirm both before relying on any single service.

Key Takeaway

WebCite is a read-only archive now: historical snapshots remain accessible and citable, but no new pages can be archived. For new citations, save a local copy and use an accepted alternative archiving service, checking your publisher's requirements first.