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September 1, 2009
APIs and Libraries
I've been keeping a small list of links for library APIs those little bits of code that let you do so much to customize your libraries web and OPAC experiences.
SirsiDynix trains for API use in all of our ILS's and many of our clients take advantage of the openness of our ILS to add and enhance the user experience.
Here's a list of useful links:
Using Google APIs
http://code.google.com/
Using Google Book Search APIs
http://code.google.com/apis/books/
Recently OCLC announced upgrades to their API's here and here.
OCLC APIs
http://www.worldcat.org/devnet/blog/services/worldcat_api/
Amazon APIs
http://aws.amazon.com/
Roy Tennant's classic list of Library Application Program Interfaces (APIs)
http://techessence.info/apis/
Useful Web APIs For Library Services
Web APIs For Library Services: A UKOLN Briefing Document
About This Document
This briefing document provides an introduction to Web APIs which can be used for accessing library services.
Useful Web APIs For Library Services
Roy Tenant has collected a list of useful APIs for library services on his TechEssense.info blog [1]
· Amazon: <http://solutions.amazonwebservices.com/connect/index.jspa>
· Book Cover Images, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/blog/2008/08/
million-free-covers-from-librarything.php>
· COPAC Search, <http://copac.ac.uk/interfaces/srw/>
· DBpedia, Structured information from Wikipedia, <http://wiki.dbpedia.org/OnlineAccess#h28-10>
· DOI Resolution, <http://www.crossref.org/03libraries/25query_spec.html>
· Google Book Search API, <http://code.google.com/apis/books/>
· Guess OPAC System, <http://xisbn.worldcat.org/liblook2/guess.htm>
· Institution Registry, OCLC, <http://worldcat.org/devnet/index.php/Services>
· Library of Congress Subject Headings, <http://lcsh.info/>
· JSON Books API, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/LibraryThing_JSON_Books_API>
· Web Services API, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/services/webservices.php>
· Metadata Crosswalk Service, OCLC, <http://www.oclc.org/research/researchworks/xwalk/>
· OpenCalais, <http://www.opencalais.com/>
· Open Library, <http://openlibrary.org/dev/docs/api>
· OpenURL Gateway, OCLC, <http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/servlet/
org.oclc.lac.affiliate.GetSearchBox?atype=openurlgateway>
· pewbot, <http://www.daveyp.com/blog/index.php/archives/69/>
· Scopus, <http://www.scopus.com/scsearchapi/>
· Talis Platform, <http://n2.talis.com/wiki/Main_Page>
· Terminology services, OCLC, <http://tspilot.oclc.org/resources/>
· ThingISBN, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2006/06/introducing-thingisbn_14.php>
· ThingLang, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2006/08/thinglang.php>
· ThingTitle, LibraryThing, <http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2006/08/introducing-thingtitle-api.php>
· Virtual International Authority File, <http://orlabs.oclc.org/viaf/>
· Worldcat Identities, OCLC, <http://outgoing.typepad.com/outgoing/2008/06/linking-to-worl.html>
· WorldCat Search Service, OCLC,
· xISBN, OCLC, <http://xisbn.worldcat.org/xisbnadmin/doc/api.htm>
· xISSN, OCLC, <http://xissn.worldcat.org/xissnadmin/>
· xOCLCNUM, OCLC, <http://xisbn.worldcat.org/xisbnadmin/xoclcnum/api.htm>
Note that this list is derived from a list originally produced by Owen Stephens [2].
References
[1] Library Application Program Interfaces (APIs), TechEssense.info, Roy Tenant, 17 July 2008, <http://techessence.info/apis/>
[2] Services/APIs/Systems/Technology/Data that we could use, Mashed Library, Nong.com, http://mashedlibrary.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=2186716%3ATopic%3A9
Hope this helps out a few folks. If you don't have the time or skills to write the API's you need, SirsiDynix clients can try addressing those needs through the community forums or by contracting a SirsiDynix consultant to write an API for you.
There's little to stop you from adding the content and features you want customized to your environment.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at September 1, 2009 5:45 PM
Comments
Thanks for the shout out, Stephen, and I'll check over your list to make sure I haven't missed anything. I really do want to have a comprehensive list of library-related APIs, since I think they can be incredibly useful for libraries to be able to sweeten their user's interaction with their ILS and web sites.
Posted by: Roy Tennant at August 31, 2009 11:05 PM
Hello Mr. Abram,
thanks for the list!
I'd like to add some "juice" to it: http://code.google.com/p/juice-project/
Posted by: Igor at September 1, 2009 4:29 AM
Stephen -- very helpful -- thanks for sharing. Best, S
Posted by: Susan Fifer Canby at September 2, 2009 5:34 PM