# Books Scraper (Google Books + Open Library) (`dami_studio/books-scraper`) Actor Searches Google Books and Open Library (no API key) and returns normalized book records: title, authors, publisher, year, ISBN-13, page count, categories, rating, language, cover image, URL, and price (Google Books). Best for building reading lists a - **URL**: https://apify.com/dami\_studio/books-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Dami's Studio](https://apify.com/dami_studio) (community) - **Categories:** Integrations, AI, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $1.00 / 1,000 book returneds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Books Scraper (Google Books + Open Library) Search books across two free, public catalogs — **Google Books** and **Open Library** — and get clean, normalized records. No API key, no login, no anti-bot. ### What it does Pick a `source`, give it a `query`, and the actor paginates through the API, deduplicates the results, and returns a normalized record per book. The output schema is identical for both sources, so you can switch sources without changing your downstream code. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Notes | |-------|------|---------|-------| | `source` | string | `googlebooks` | `googlebooks` or `openlibrary` | | `query` | string | — | **Required.** e.g. `clean code`, `the hobbit`, `isbn:9780132350884` | | `maxItems` | integer | `100` | Max unique books to return (1–1000) | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | off | **Optional.** Public no-auth APIs with no anti-bot — proxy is not needed and is off by default. Only enable it if you hit IP rate limits. | ### Output (normalized for both sources) ```json { "ok": true, "source": "googlebooks", "sourceId": "...", "title": "Clean Code", "subtitle": "A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship", "authors": ["Robert C. Martin"], "publisher": "Pearson Education", "publishedDate": "2009", "year": 2009, "isbn": "9780136083252", "pageCount": 464, "categories": ["Computers"], "averageRating": 4.5, "ratingsCount": 12, "language": "en", "description": "…", "coverImage": "https://…", "url": "https://…", "price": { "amount": 29.99, "currency": "USD", "buyLink": "https://…" } } ```` - `description` is populated for Google Books; Open Library search results do not include it (`null`). - `price` is Google Books only; it is `null` for Open Library and for Google Books volumes that are not for sale. - `isbn` prefers ISBN-13 when available, otherwise falls back to ISBN-10 / the first identifier. - Any field can be `null` when the source doesn't provide it. In practice `subtitle`, `publisher`, `isbn`, `pageCount`, `averageRating`, `ratingsCount`, `language`, and `coverImage` are commonly missing on some records. `title` is always present (records without a title are skipped). ### Billing Charged per **book** returned (`ok: true` rows only). Diagnostic rows (`ok: false` — e.g. `NO_RESULTS`, `BAD_INPUT`, `NETWORK`, `RATE_LIMITED`) are **never** charged. An empty result set or invalid input produces an uncharged diagnostic row, not a charge. ### Troubleshooting - **Empty dataset / `NO_RESULTS`** — the query matched no books for the chosen source. Try a broader query or switch `source`. You are not charged. - **`RATE_LIMITED`** — the public API throttled the run. The actor backs off and retries automatically; re-run later, or enable the optional proxy if it persists. - **`BAD_INPUT`** — `query` was empty or `source` was invalid; a diagnostic row explains what to fix (you are not charged). ### Sources - Google Books API — `https://www.googleapis.com/books/v1/volumes` - Open Library Search API — `https://openlibrary.org/search.json` # Actor input Schema ## `source` (type: `string`): Which book catalog to search. Google Books returns descriptions and prices; Open Library is purely bibliographic. Output is normalized identically for both. ## `query` (type: `string`): Keywords to search for, e.g. "clean code", "the hobbit", or "isbn:9780132350884". Required. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of unique books to return. Results are paginated automatically and deduplicated by ISBN (or title + author). ## `notionConnector` (type: `string`): Optional. Write each result as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless. ## `notionParentId` (type: `string`): Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. These are public, no-auth APIs (Google Books, Open Library) with no anti-bot, so Apify Proxy is NOT needed and is left off by default. Only enable it if you hit IP rate limits. ## Actor input object example ```json { "source": "googlebooks", "query": "clean code", "maxItems": 100, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): Scraped rows are stored in the default dataset (one row per result). Blocked/empty/error runs return a single uncharged diagnostic row instead. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "query": "clean code" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dami_studio/books-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "query": "clean code" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dami_studio/books-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "query": "clean code" }' | apify call dami_studio/books-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dami_studio/books-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Books Scraper (Google Books + Open Library)", "description": "Searches Google Books and Open Library (no API key) and returns normalized book records: title, authors, publisher, year, ISBN-13, page count, categories, rating, language, cover image, URL, and price (Google Books). Best for building reading lists a", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "gL2rD7gGqM2pJMnUx" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dami_studio~books-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dami_studio-books-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~books-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dami_studio-books-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~books-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dami_studio-books-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "query" ], "properties": { "source": { "title": "Source", "enum": [ "googlebooks", "openlibrary" ], "type": "string", "description": "Which book catalog to search. Google Books returns descriptions and prices; Open Library is purely bibliographic. Output is normalized identically for both.", "default": "googlebooks" }, "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "Keywords to search for, e.g. \"clean code\", \"the hobbit\", or \"isbn:9780132350884\". Required." }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max books", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of unique books to return. Results are paginated automatically and deduplicated by ISBN (or title + author).", "default": 100 }, "notionConnector": { "title": "Notion connector (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. Write each result as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless." }, "notionParentId": { "title": "Notion target data source ID", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead." }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. These are public, no-auth APIs (Google Books, Open Library) with no anti-bot, so Apify Proxy is NOT needed and is left off by default. Only enable it if you hit IP rate limits.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```