What examples do libraries have of patrons making use of library developed open APIs (i.e., catalogue API)?

Question

There have a been a number of libraries developing open APIs to their systems and data (where they're able to license the data appropriately). Usually these APIs help make the libraries internal processes more efficient and effective. However, I am interested in examples where open APIs have been used by users to create their own applications. What has been the impact of these developments and have they been incorporated back into the library's own services? Has the development of these open APIs helped innovation flourish beyond the library?

Answer 1

For me the canonical examples of external use of Library APIs are Jon Udell's Libary Lookup project and Library Thing. Calling vendor specific URL patterns and Z39.50 APIs may seem like a stretch, but I think they really are. The Worldcat API has a listing of third party applications that were built by people outside of OCLC. The Chronicling America website at the Library of Congress has an API that is used by services such as archives.com. I imagine there are lots of other examples, I'd love to see them here. For example here is a listing of mobile apps that use APIs at the National Library of Medicine.

I think your questions is a really good one, because we need to do a better job of highlighting the ways in which our APIs are used. We also need to make sure that use is the driving factor in how APIs are designed and implemented, rather focusing on whether it uses some blessed standard.

Answer 2

Here's an example of a blogger from my hometown who wrote a Perl script to get an RSS feed of new DVD acquisitions at the local public library.

http://ruk.ca/content/more-opac-fun-rss-feed-new-dvds-public-library

He also made a script to create an RSS feed of the books you have checked out at the library:

http://ruk.ca/content/creating-rss-feed-books-you-have-checked-out-library

Answer 3

In an email to the Code4Lib mailing list in October 2011, Randy Stern of Harvard's library said their Data Lookup Web Service was used by projects out of the Harvard Library Lab. I realize that's two units in the same institution, but it shows a library API in use.