# Google Books Scraper — Books, ISBN & Prices (`ponderable_hydrometer/google-books-scraper`) Actor Search Google Books — title, authors, ISBN, categories, ratings, page count, price & preview links. Query by title/author/subject/ISBN. Bring your own free API key. - **URL**: https://apify.com/ponderable\_hydrometer/google-books-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Ponderable Hydrometer](https://apify.com/ponderable_hydrometer) (community) - **Categories:** E-commerce, Developer tools, Automation - **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 results 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/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 ## Google Books Scraper — Books, ISBN & Prices **Search the entire Google Books catalogue by title, author, publisher, subject or ISBN — and get metadata plus the fields Open Library can't: Google's ratings, previews and sale info (price + buy link).** Uses the official Google Books API with your own free key. Perfect for book catalogs, price research, reading and library apps, ISBN enrichment, or datasets. ### What you get Per volume: - **Identity** — `title`, `subtitle`, `authors`, `publisher`, `publishedDate`, `language` - **IDs** — `id` (Google volume ID), `isbn10`, `isbn13` - **Details** — `description`, `pageCount`, `printType`, `categories`, `maturityRating` - **Ratings** — `averageRating`, `ratingsCount` (Google's own) - **Sale info** — `saleability`, `listPrice`, `retailPrice` (amount + currency), `buyLink` - **Media / links** — `thumbnail`, `previewLink`, `infoLink` ### Modes - **Search** — pass a `query` using Books operators: `intitle:`, `inauthor:`, `inpublisher:`, `subject:`, `isbn:`. Filter by `orderBy`, `printType`, `langRestrict`, `country`. - **Volume lookup** — pass `volumeIds` to fetch specific volumes directly. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `apiKey` | string (secret) | — (required) | Your Google API key with the Books API enabled | | `query` | string | — | Books query, e.g. `intitle:clean code`, `isbn:9780132350884` | | `volumeIds` | array | — | Specific Google Books volume IDs | | `orderBy` | string | `relevance` | `relevance` or `newest` | | `printType` | string | `all` | `all`, `books` or `magazines` | | `langRestrict` | string | — | Restrict to a language code (`en`, `ro`, `fr`) | | `country` | string | `US` | ISO country code — affects sale info / availability | | `maxResults` | integer | `100` | Cap on volumes (paged in batches of 40) | Provide at least one of `query` or `volumeIds`. ### Example input ```json { "query": "inauthor:asimov", "orderBy": "relevance", "maxResults": 50, "apiKey": "" } ```` ISBN lookup: ```json { "query": "isbn:9780132350884", "apiKey": "" } ``` ### Example output (one volume) ```json { "id": "hjEFCAAAQBAJ", "title": "Clean Code", "subtitle": "A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship", "authors": ["Robert C. Martin"], "publisher": "Pearson Education", "publishedDate": "2008-08-01", "description": "Even bad code can function...", "isbn10": "0132350882", "isbn13": "9780132350884", "pageCount": 464, "printType": "BOOK", "categories": ["Computers"], "averageRating": 4.5, "ratingsCount": 210, "maturityRating": "NOT_MATURE", "language": "en", "thumbnail": "http://books.google.com/books/content?id=hjEFCAAAQBAJ&...", "previewLink": "http://books.google.com/books?id=hjEFCAAAQBAJ&...", "infoLink": "https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hjEFCAAAQBAJ", "saleability": "FOR_SALE", "listPrice": "35.99 USD", "retailPrice": "29.99 USD", "buyLink": "https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=hjEFCAAAQBAJ&rdid=..." } ``` ### Why this actor - **Prices, previews and ratings** — the fields keyless book catalogs (like Open Library) don't carry. - **Country-aware sale info** — set `country` to get the saleability and pricing for that market. - **Query operators + direct lookups** — search by title/author/subject/ISBN, or pull exact volume IDs. - **Reliable** — 503/429 backoff, batched paging up to your cap. ### Notes - **Bring your own key (required):** create a free API key in the Google Cloud Console and enable the **Books API** on its project. Set it as `apiKey` (stored as a secret). If no key is provided the actor exits immediately with a clear message. Never hardcode a private key in a public task example — use ``. - `listPrice` / `retailPrice` / `buyLink` are only present for saleable volumes in the requested `country`. - Not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. ### Pricing Pay per result — **$2.00 per 1,000 results**. No subscription or platform fees; you only pay for the results you get. ### Related actors - **Open Library Scraper** — keyless books + ISBN lookups (no prices). - **CrossRef Scraper** — scholarly works and citations. - **arXiv Scraper** — preprint metadata. # Actor input Schema ## `query` (type: `string`): Books query. Operators: intitle:, inauthor:, inpublisher:, subject:, isbn:, e.g. "intitle:clean code", "inauthor:asimov", "isbn:9780132350884", "subject:fiction". ## `volumeIds` (type: `array`): Specific Google Books volume IDs, e.g. \["hjEFCAAAQBAJ"]. ## `orderBy` (type: `string`): relevance or newest. ## `printType` (type: `string`): all, books or magazines. ## `langRestrict` (type: `string`): Restrict to a language code, e.g. "en", "ro", "fr". ## `country` (type: `string`): ISO country code (affects sale info / availability), e.g. "US", "RO", "GB". ## `apiKey` (type: `string`): Your Google API key with the Books API enabled (Google Cloud Console). Required. Kept secret. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Cap on number of volumes returned (paged in batches of 40). ## Actor input object example ```json { "query": "intitle:clean code", "orderBy": "relevance", "printType": "all", "country": "US", "maxResults": 100 } ``` # 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": "intitle:clean code" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/google-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": "intitle:clean code" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/google-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": "intitle:clean code" }' | apify call ponderable_hydrometer/google-books-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=ponderable_hydrometer/google-books-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Google Books Scraper — Books, ISBN & Prices", "description": "Search Google Books — title, authors, ISBN, categories, ratings, page count, price & preview links. Query by title/author/subject/ISBN. Bring your own free API key.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "tBaW9WcGDZSH898nP" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~google-books-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-ponderable_hydrometer-google-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/ponderable_hydrometer~google-books-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-google-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/ponderable_hydrometer~google-books-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-google-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": [ "apiKey" ], "properties": { "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "Books query. Operators: intitle:, inauthor:, inpublisher:, subject:, isbn:, e.g. \"intitle:clean code\", \"inauthor:asimov\", \"isbn:9780132350884\", \"subject:fiction\"." }, "volumeIds": { "title": "Volume IDs (direct lookup)", "type": "array", "description": "Specific Google Books volume IDs, e.g. [\"hjEFCAAAQBAJ\"].", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "orderBy": { "title": "Order by", "enum": [ "relevance", "newest" ], "type": "string", "description": "relevance or newest.", "default": "relevance" }, "printType": { "title": "Print type", "enum": [ "all", "books", "magazines" ], "type": "string", "description": "all, books or magazines.", "default": "all" }, "langRestrict": { "title": "Language restrict", "type": "string", "description": "Restrict to a language code, e.g. \"en\", \"ro\", \"fr\"." }, "country": { "title": "Country", "type": "string", "description": "ISO country code (affects sale info / availability), e.g. \"US\", \"RO\", \"GB\".", "default": "US" }, "apiKey": { "title": "Google Books API key", "type": "string", "description": "Your Google API key with the Books API enabled (Google Cloud Console). Required. Kept secret." }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max results", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on number of volumes returned (paged in batches of 40).", "default": 100 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```