Introduction to APIs and how they might be used in libraries

1. API opportunities
A general introduction to APIs
and how they might be used
at the Watson Library

2. API opportunities API e.g.
Application:
Open Library Data
Program:
“FindIt Catalog”
Interaction:
Application hosts
images. It accepts
requests for an image
with ISBN match.
Program can display
the book cover image
if the application
provided one.

3. API opportunities
Application:
Google Books
Program:
“FindIt Catalog”
Interaction:
Application hosts
book descriptions. It
accepts requests for
information from
programs.
Program can display
the book information.
API e.g.

4. API opportunities
Application:
Internet Archive
digital collection
Program:
“FindIt Catalog”
Interaction:
Application hosts
digitized books. It
accepts requests
from programs.
Program can display a
link to the digitized
book.
API e.g.

5. API opportunities
An “API” is a defined interaction between that part of a
computer application which accepts requests from
other programs and responds by providing some data.
Application Program Interface
or
Application Program Interaction
API basics

6. API opportunities API Technical Stuff
Impress your colleagues
Just four simple techy things
to know about
Application Program Interactions

7. API opportunities
In order for a program to interact with an API, it must follow well
defined, well documented syntax for making requests.
We saw the book cover in the library catalog. That API request
looks like this …
https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/isbn/0300120273-M.jpg

8. API opportunities
Secondly, note that the response from the application is data…
<breakfast_menu>
<food>
<name>Belgian Waffles</name>
<price>$5.95</price>
<description>Two of our famous Belgian Waffles with real maple syrup</description>
<calories>650</calories>
</food>
</breakfast_menu>

9. API opportunities
FoLok
or as JSON data …
{"request_date":"2017-11-14 15:26:52.195","search_value":[
{"operator":"contains","field":"Index","value":"c"}], "search_type":"search","results":
[{"lastName":"Cadmus","displayDate":"1904-1999","index":"C","id":1144,"alphaSort":
"Cadmus, Paul","isArtist":1, "firstName":"Paul","displayName": "Paul
Cadmus"},{"lastName":"Cain","index":"C","id":2934, "alphaSort":"Cain,
David","isArtist":1,"firstName":"David","displayName":"David
Cain"},{"lastName":"Calder","displayDate": "(b. 1898, Lawnton, Pennsylvania - d. 1976, New
York, New York)","index":"C","id":5616,"nationality": "American", "alphaSort":"Calder,
Alexander","isArtist":1,"firstName":"Alexander","displayName":"AlexanderCalder"}],
"total_results":125}

10. API opportunities
• Some APIs only accept requests from authorized programs.
• In that case you have to register for an “API Key” first.
• The “key” is sent as part of the request.
…/American/5616/Stella/t4jue8Y#%kwnYT&20171114M
API Key

11. API opportunities
Lastly, your program will need to have coding that tells it how to
parse the data and do something useful with it …
def make_openlib_holding(book):
holding = {
'LIBRARY_NAME': 'IA', 'LOCATION_NAME': 'OL’,
'LOCATION_DISPLAY_NAME': 'OL: Open Library’ }
if book.keys():
holding['ITEMS'][0]['DISPLAY_CALL_NO'] =
book.get('identifiers', {}).get('openlibrary', [])[0]
holding[‘DATA = book.get('url', '')
return holding

12. API opportunities @ Watson
Benefits of using APIs @ the Watson Library
• Help the library / museum staff do their work
• Improve usability of our services for library patrons
• APIs might be used advocate the value of the library to the
museum and the community by providing informative
‘dashboards’

13. API opportunities
Types of info we can get or update from Sierra
RETRIEVE ADD or DELETE
UPDATE
• Bibliographic data
• Item data
• Order data
• Patron data
• Checkouts
• Fines
• Holds
@ Watson
• Hold data
• Patron names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Emails.

14. API opportunities @ Watson

15. API opportunities @ Watson

16. API opportunities Learn about APIs

17. API opportunities
BD
Learn about APIs

18. API opportunities
What’s next?
• Let’s learn what APIs are offered.
• We can network with the Sierra and TMS community of API
developers from other libraries
• We’ll form a group of library staff to brainstorm ideas –
and set priorities for which ones we might try first.
• APIs are powerful, and free, let’s use them!
Use APIs

19. API opportunities Questions?

20. API opportunities
Image credits
[14] Alma Dashboard
Retrieved from http://discoveralma.com/classes/819hdh90faspaFJ0aKD9/classes_secure_dashboard_102.html
[15] LibAnalytics Dashboard
Retrieved from https://buzz.springshare.com/springynews/news-26/laninsight
[19] To Decide the Question
John George Brown (American (born England), Durham 1831–1913 New York)
Retrieved from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10241

21. API opportunities
Michael Cummings
mike.wiganydc@gmail.com
516-373-9359
November 2017
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thomas J. Watson Library