Open Library MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Open Library API that enables AI assistants to search for book and author information. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.

People who work with authors, books and internet archive and want it reachable from Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in TypeScript.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-09-03 · ★ 94 · #27 OF 278 MAINTAINED API INTEGRATION · VERIFIED 2026-09-18

MIT · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Open Library

Claude Code

claude mcp add 8ensmith-mcp-open-library -- npx -y mcp-open-library

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "8ensmith-mcp-open-library": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-open-library"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package mcp-open-library - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.8enSmith is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Open Library can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

v1.2.2 · 2026-08-29

Removed · The "Installing via Smithery" section of the README. The command it documented, npx -y @smithery/cli install @8enSmith/mcp-open-library --client claude, no longer works: install is deprecated in favour of…

v1.2.1 · 2026-08-14

Added · glama.json, claiming maintainership of this server's Glama listing. Glama does not build the Dockerfile committed here: it builds one generated from a build spec - base image, Node version, build steps and CMD…

v1.2.0 · 2026-08-13

Fixed · The server started only when its entrypoint was invoked by its real path, which meant npx mcp-open-library and a global install both exited 0 having done nothing. The guard read process.argv[1] === new…

04 · Who maintains Open Library

Open Library is maintained by 8ensmith. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Apr 2025.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/8ensmith/mcp-open-library
website: https://github.com/8enSmith/mcp-open-library#readme
category: API integration - ranked #27 of 278 actively-maintained API integration servers as of 2026-09-18.
release cadence: 8 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-29)
registry: io.github.8enSmith/mcp-open-library (active, first published 2026-08-09 · 8 versions)
packages: npm:mcp-open-library

06 · Open Library FAQ

What is Open Library?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the Open Library API that enables AI assistants to search for book and author information. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.

Is Open Library still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-18, its last commit was 2026-09-03 and it shipped 8 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Open Library?

Run `npx -y mcp-open-library`. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Open Library run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Open Library

Alternatives to Open Library

Maintained API integration servers if Open Library isn't the fit.

More API integration MCP servers · Airflow MCP Server · Google Search Console · Openaffiliate MCP · Fathom MCP Server · Companies House

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