Is there an API for Open Library?

Open Library does not offer a public data API for this, but Anakin Wire provides 8 maintained endpoints for openlibrary.org. You call Anakin's REST API with an action ID and parameters and get structured JSON back; Anakin handles the browser, proxies, anti-bot, and parsing.

How do I scrape Open Library data?

POST to https://api.anakin.io/v1/wire/task with your API key, the action ID, and its parameters, then poll GET /v1/wire/jobs/{id} until the job settles. There is nothing to install and no scraper to maintain — when openlibrary.org changes its markup, Anakin updates the action.

Do I need a Open Library account?

No. Every Open Library action listed here runs anonymously — no account and no credentials required.

What does the Open Library API cost?

Usage-based credits, charged per call and refunded automatically when a job fails. New accounts start with 300 free credits and no card. See anakin.io/pricing for the current rates.

Research

Open Library API

openlibrary.org

Open Library - catalog search, subject filters, and work and edition metadata.

Actions: 8
Category: Research
Login: Not required
Output: JSON

Get an API key Wire API reference

Call the Open Library API

Submit a task, then poll the job until it settles. This example runs act_openlibrary_collections_index.

curl -X POST https://api.anakin.io/v1/wire/task \
  -H "X-API-Key: $ANAKIN_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "action_id": "act_openlibrary_collections_index",
    "params": {}
  }'

8 actions on openlibrary.org

Read

Collections Index
act_openlibrary_collections_indexread1 credit / call
Returns curated collections with links and carousel configs for award-scoped book discovery.
Curated Collection Details
act_openlibrary_curated_collection_detailread2 credits / call
Returns a curated collection page with carousel query metadata and linked work or edition IDs.
collection_slug
string · required
Edition Details
act_openlibrary_edition_detail_ssrread2 credits / call
Returns edition-level bibliographic data for a book OLID, including title, authors, and parent work link.
edition_id
string · required
title_slug
string · required
Homepage Landing
act_openlibrary_homepage_landingread1 credit / call
Returns the homepage with global navigation, welcome carousels, and browse entry points.
Search Results
act_openlibrary_search_resultsread2 credits / call
Returns paginated search hits for a query with work OLIDs, edition links, titles, and facet metadata.
search_query
string · required
page
string · required
Subject Browse Page
act_openlibrary_subject_browse_pageread1 credit / call
Returns a subject hub page with carousels, prolific authors, and subject-scoped search links.
subject_slug
string · required
Subject Taxonomy Index
act_openlibrary_subject_taxonomy_indexread1 credit / call
Returns top-level subject browse categories with links into subject-scoped catalog discovery paths.
Work Details
act_openlibrary_work_detail_ssrread2 credits / call
Returns full work-level metadata for a work OLID, including title, authors, subjects, editions, and related works.
work_id
string · required
work_slug
string · required
edition_key
string

Open Library API questions

Is there an API for Open Library?: Open Library does not offer a public data API for this, but Anakin Wire provides 8 maintained endpoints for openlibrary.org. You call Anakin's REST API with an action ID and parameters and get structured JSON back; Anakin handles the browser, proxies, anti-bot, and parsing.
How do I scrape Open Library data?: POST to https://api.anakin.io/v1/wire/task with your API key, the action ID, and its parameters, then poll GET /v1/wire/jobs/{id} until the job settles. There is nothing to install and no scraper to maintain — when openlibrary.org changes its markup, Anakin updates the action.
Do I need a Open Library account?: No. Every Open Library action listed here runs anonymously — no account and no credentials required.
What does the Open Library API cost?: Usage-based credits, charged per call and refunded automatically when a job fails. New accounts start with 300 free credits and no card. See anakin.io/pricing for the current rates.