Openlibrary Mcp Server
by cyanheadscommunityv0.2.3
1
An MCP server for querying Open Library data, including searching books and authors, fetching works and editions, browsing subjects, and resolving cover image URLs. It supports stdio or streamable HTTP transport.
From the registry: Search books and authors, fetch editions, browse subjects, and resolve cover images.
Install & configure
Prerequisites
- optionalInstall Node.js or BunRequires Bun v1.3.0+ or Node.js 24.0.0+ to run the package locally via bunx or npx. Prefer npx for the simplest portable setup.https://bun.sh/
Install in your client
Paste into the AI you're chatting with — it will figure out the rest
Please install the `openlibrary-mcp-server` MCP server into my current AI client (that's you).
Optional prerequisites:
- Install Node.js or Bun — Requires Bun v1.3.0+ or Node.js 24.0.0+ to run the package locally via bunx or npx. Prefer npx for the simplest portable setup. (https://bun.sh/)
Canonical MCP server config (stdio transport):
- command: `npx`
- args: ["-y","@cyanheads/openlibrary-mcp-server@latest"]
- required environment variables:
- `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE`: Transport mode for the server. Set to stdio for MCP client stdio usage. (example: `stdio`)
- optional environment variables:
- `MCP_LOG_LEVEL`: Log verbosity level. (example: `info`)
- `OPENLIBRARY_USER_AGENT`: User-Agent sent with Open Library API requests. README recommends including a contact email per community convention. (example: `<your-app-name>/<your-version> (<your-email>)`)
- `MCP_AUTH_MODE`: Authentication mode for the server: none, jwt, or oauth. (example: `none`)
- `STORAGE_PROVIDER_TYPE`: Storage backend type. (example: `in-memory`)
- `OTEL_ENABLED`: Enable OpenTelemetry tracing. (example: `false`)
- `MCP_GC_PRESSURE_INTERVAL_MS`: Opt-in Bun-only forced-GC pressure loop interval in milliseconds. (example: `<milliseconds>`)
- `LOGS_DIR`: Directory for log files when running under Node.js. (example: `<your-logs-directory>`)
Note: README also documents Streamable HTTP and a public hosted endpoint, but the simplest canonical install path is stdio via npx. For HTTP mode, the server supports MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=http, MCP_HTTP_PORT, MCP_HTTP_ENDPOINT_PATH, and MCP_PUBLIC_URL; local server URL would be formed from those settings.
Add this MCP server to my current client's config in the correct format for you. If you need secrets or credentials I haven't provided, ASK me — do not invent values or leave raw placeholders. After adding it, tell me how to verify the server is connected.Note: README also documents Streamable HTTP and a public hosted endpoint, but the simplest canonical install path is stdio via npx. For HTTP mode, the server supports MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=http, MCP_HTTP_PORT, MCP_HTTP_ENDPOINT_PATH, and MCP_PUBLIC_URL; local server URL would be formed from those settings.
Tools (9)
openlibrary_search_books
Full-text book search with field filters, sorting, pagination, and optional live reading availability.
openlibrary_get_work
Fetch a work by Open Library Work ID, returning title, description, subjects, cover IDs, and author IDs.
openlibrary_get_editions
List editions of a work, including publishers, languages, formats, ISBNs, and print run details.
openlibrary_get_edition
Fetch a single edition by ISBN, OCLC, LCCN, or Open Library Edition ID.
openlibrary_search_authors
Search authors by name and return author IDs, dates, top works, and subject associations.
openlibrary_get_author
Fetch author details by Open Library Author ID, including bio, dates, photo IDs, and linked identifiers.
openlibrary_get_author_works
List works by an author with titles, cover IDs, and Work OLIDs.
openlibrary_get_subject
Browse works by subject tag and return matching works with edition counts and cover IDs.
openlibrary_get_cover_url
Resolve a cover image URL for a book or author photo in a requested size.
Packages
@cyanheads/openlibrary-mcp-server
npmv0.2.3transport: stdio
@cyanheads/openlibrary-mcp-server
npmv0.2.3transport: streamable-http
Remote Endpoints
https://openlibrary.caseyjhand.com/mcp
type: streamable-http
Details
- Language
- TypeScript
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Released
- Jul 27, 2026
- Last commit
- Jun 20, 2026
- Registry name
- io.github.cyanheads/openlibrary-mcp-server