# Google Books Search Scraper (`seemuapps/google-books-search-scraper`) Actor Search the Google Books catalog and export book metadata. Title, authors, ISBN, ratings, description, and links to a clean dataset. - **URL**: https://apify.com/seemuapps/google-books-search-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Andrew](https://apify.com/seemuapps) (community) - **Categories:** SEO tools, Automation, E-commerce - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.50 / 1,000 book 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.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 ## Google Books Search Scraper Search the entire Google Books catalog by title, author, ISBN, subject, or free text — and export structured metadata for every match. No login, no scraping, no rate-limit guessing. ### What you get - **One dataset row per book** with title, subtitle, authors, publisher, publication date, ISBN-10/13, page count, language, categories, average rating, and ratings count - **Cover images** — thumbnail and small thumbnail URLs - **Direct links** — preview link, info link, and canonical volume link to the Google Books page - **Sale info** when available — saleability status, list price, and currency code - **Auto-pagination** — request up to 200 results per query and the actor fetches the pages for you - **Robust** — errors on one query don't kill the run; an error row is written and the next query continues ### Use cases - **Bibliography enrichment** — turn a column of ISBNs or titles into a structured catalog with covers, authors, and descriptions - **Catalog research** — discover everything published by an author, in a series, or about a topic - **ISBN lookup at scale** — batch-resolve ISBNs to titles, publishers, and metadata for inventory or library tooling - **Competitive analysis** — track which titles dominate a subject area on Google Books - **Reading recommendations** — pull books by subject + sort by newest for curated lists ### How to use 1. Add your search queries to the **Queries** field — one per line. Use Google Books operators: `intitle:`, `inauthor:`, `inpublisher:`, `subject:`, `isbn:`, `lccn:`, `oclc:`. 2. Set **Max results per query** — 1–200. The actor auto-paginates in batches of 40. 3. (Optional) **Order by** Relevance or Newest. 4. (Optional) Restrict to **Books only** or **Magazines only** with **Print type**. 5. (Optional) Set **Language restrict** to a two-letter code like `en`, `es`, `fr`. 6. Run — every book appears as its own dataset row, ready to export as CSV or JSON. ### Example query patterns | Query | What it finds | |---|---| | `dune` | Free-text search across titles, authors, and metadata | | `intitle:dune` | Books with "dune" in the title | | `inauthor:"frank herbert"` | All books by Frank Herbert | | `subject:fiction inauthor:asimov` | Asimov's fiction works | | `isbn:9780441172719` | Single-ISBN lookup | | `inpublisher:"o'reilly"` | Everything from O'Reilly | ### Output schema | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `query` | string | The input query | | `rank` | number | 1-based rank within the query (0 if no results or error) | | `status` | string | `success`, `no-results`, or `error` | | `volumeId` | string \| null | Google Books volume ID | | `title` | string \| null | Book title | | `subtitle` | string \| null | Subtitle | | `authors` | string[] | List of author names | | `publisher` | string \| null | Publisher | | `publishedDate` | string \| null | Publication date (YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD) | | `description` | string \| null | Plain-text description | | `pageCount` | number \| null | Page count | | `printType` | string \| null | BOOK or MAGAZINE | | `categories` | string[] | Google Books category tags | | `averageRating` | number \| null | 1–5 | | `ratingsCount` | number \| null | Number of ratings | | `language` | string \| null | ISO-639-1 language code | | `isbn10` | string \| null | ISBN-10 | | `isbn13` | string \| null | ISBN-13 | | `thumbnail` | string \| null | Cover image (~128px) | | `smallThumbnail` | string \| null | Cover image (~80px) | | `previewLink` | string \| null | Google Books preview URL | | `infoLink` | string \| null | Google Books info URL | | `canonicalVolumeLink` | string \| null | Canonical volume URL | | `saleability` | string \| null | FOR_SALE, NOT_FOR_SALE, etc. | | `listPriceAmount` | number \| null | List price | | `listPriceCurrency` | string \| null | ISO-4217 currency code | | `error` | string \| null | Error message if `status` is `error` | ### Tips - Many older or self-published books are missing covers, descriptions, or ratings — don't assume every field is populated. - ISBN-13 is more reliable than ISBN-10 for modern works; older titles may only have ISBN-10. - Sort by `newest` to surface recent editions and reissues. - Combine operators: `intitle:"foundation" inauthor:"asimov"` returns just the Foundation novels. # Actor input Schema ## `queries` (type: `array`): Free-text search queries. Use standard Google Books operators: intitle:, inauthor:, inpublisher:, subject:, isbn:, lccn:, oclc:. ## `maxResultsPerQuery` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of books returned per query. Google Books returns up to 40 per page; the actor auto-paginates up to this cap. ## `orderBy` (type: `string`): Sort order for results. Relevance ranks by Google's match score; Newest puts the most recently published editions first. ## `printType` (type: `string`): Restrict results to books, magazines, or include both. ## `langRestrict` (type: `string`): Two-letter ISO-639-1 language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Leave empty for any language. ## Actor input object example ```json { "queries": [ "intitle:dune", "inauthor:asimov" ], "maxResultsPerQuery": 20, "orderBy": "relevance", "printType": "all" } ```` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): One record per book: query, rank, volumeId, title, subtitle, authors, publisher, publishedDate, description, pageCount, printType, categories, averageRating, ratingsCount, language, isbn10, isbn13, thumbnail, previewLink, infoLink, canonicalVolumeLink, saleability, listPrice, currencyCode. # 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 = { "queries": [ "intitle:dune", "inauthor:asimov" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("seemuapps/google-books-search-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 = { "queries": [ "intitle:dune", "inauthor:asimov", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("seemuapps/google-books-search-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 '{ "queries": [ "intitle:dune", "inauthor:asimov" ] }' | apify call seemuapps/google-books-search-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=seemuapps/google-books-search-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Google Books Search Scraper", "description": "Search the Google Books catalog and export book metadata. Title, authors, ISBN, ratings, description, and links to a clean dataset.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "Mz4Ja4Mte201UBeIc" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/seemuapps~google-books-search-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-seemuapps-google-books-search-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/seemuapps~google-books-search-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-seemuapps-google-books-search-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/seemuapps~google-books-search-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-seemuapps-google-books-search-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "queries" ], "properties": { "queries": { "title": "Queries", "type": "array", "description": "Free-text search queries. Use standard Google Books operators: intitle:, inauthor:, inpublisher:, subject:, isbn:, lccn:, oclc:.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxResultsPerQuery": { "title": "Max results per query", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of books returned per query. Google Books returns up to 40 per page; the actor auto-paginates up to this cap.", "default": 20 }, "orderBy": { "title": "Order by", "enum": [ "relevance", "newest" ], "type": "string", "description": "Sort order for results. Relevance ranks by Google's match score; Newest puts the most recently published editions first.", "default": "relevance" }, "printType": { "title": "Print type", "enum": [ "all", "books", "magazines" ], "type": "string", "description": "Restrict results to books, magazines, or include both.", "default": "all" }, "langRestrict": { "title": "Language restrict", "type": "string", "description": "Two-letter ISO-639-1 language code (e.g. en, es, fr). Leave empty for any language." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```