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Open Library API

Open Library (openlibrary.org) has 3 public methods: search books, list books by author and get book details. Each costs 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free.

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Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Open Library.

Methods

3

  • Search books

    Finds Open Library books by search words, optionally narrowed by author and subject, sorted by relevance or publication age. Returns work-level results; free_online means at least one edition is marked public or borrowable, not that a loan is available now.

    Returns title, authors, first publication year, edition count, ISBNs, languages, cover image, free online flag, Open Library URL

    Readopenlibrary.org/search_books

  • List books by author

    Finds an Open Library author by name, link or key and lists their works with first publication year, edition count, cover and an author profile.

    Returns author profile (name, dates, biography, photo), total works, and books (title, first year, editions, cover, link)

    Readopenlibrary.org/list_author_books

  • Get book details

    Gets a book's catalog details from Open Library by its title, with an optional author or ISBN to identify the right book. Reading availability reflects listed editions; details may be missing when the catalog has none.

    Returns title, subtitle, authors, first published year, description, subjects, pages, editions, rating, reading availability, cover, link

    Readopenlibrary.org/get_book