3-Part Webinar Series: Application Programming Inferfaces for Libraries

Series Description: This 3-part webinar series provides an overview of application programming interfaces (APIs) and how they relate to libraries. The first session provides a general overview of APIs as a whole, then the second and third focus on Springshare APIs and Primo APIs, respectively. Attendees do not need prior knowledge of APIs to participate.

Part One: An API Primer; Building Blocks for Digital Library Innovation

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
Presenters: Jason Clarke

Description: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), the machine user interfaces and rules underpinning our software and technology, continue to gain importance as a technical competency in our digital age. In this introductory workshop, we’ll look at the core concepts of APIs, including their structure, types, and protocols. We’ll also consider how to connect APIs to library services and applications. The session will be grounded in practical examples and workshop attendees will get the chance to see prototypes of APIs in action and come away with a foundational understanding of this technology.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Explain the role of APIs in the information landscape.
Identify key API features, types, and protocols relevant to library work.
Develop strategies for consuming API data to support library services.
Apply API knowledge to enhance library workflows and user experiences.

Who Should Attend: MLIS/MSIS Students, Systems Librarians, Digital Initiative Librarians, Web Librarians, Library IT staff, Metadata/Cataloging Professionals, Technology Practitioners in libraries, and anyone interested in learning to work with APIs or to integrate services into their library's digital presence.

Presenter Bio:

Jason Clarke is the head of Research Informatics, I build and support research and data services at the Montana State University (MSU) Library. In my work, I have focused on Semantic Web development, digital library development, metadata and data modeling, web services and APIs, search engine optimization, and interface design. Before coming to MSU, I became interested in the intersection between libraries and technology while working as a web developer for the Division of Information Technology at the University of Wisconsin. After two years, I moved on to work as the web services librarian at Williams College Libraries. I really enjoy teaching and speaking about what I do. I try to publish my thoughts whenever I can and have even written some books. • Building Mobile Library Applications • Responsive Web Design in Practice When I don't have metadata on the brain, I like to hike the mountains of Montana with my wife, our daughter, and our furry family member.

Part Two: Introduction to Springshare APIs

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
Presenters: Shawn D. Walsh

Description: Springshare provides a wealth of information that can be accessed though their APIs. You can create your own applications, extend the functionality of their products, mine data for research and statistics, and better integrate the Springshare applications into your website. Join this webinar to get tips and ideas to maximize what you can do with APIs and Springshare.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

A basic understanding of Springshare APIs
What fields can be accessed through a Springshare API
A basic understanding of access tokens to access APIs

Presenter Bios:

Shawn D. Walsh has been working in libraries in various IT capacities since 1997 when at the age of 18 he was hired to be Hubbard Public Library’s first systems administrator. Having worked there for many years, he spent eight years as the Senior Technology Analyst for the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System where he either worked with or consulted on the technology needs for a variety of public, school, special and academic libraries. All this was before coming to Madison Public Library in 2012 to be their Emerging Services and Technologies Librarian. This position combined his love of technology, marketing, and outreach services into one position that supports a building and two outreach vehicles. While Shawn is on the board for the Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce and leads their Membership & Marketing Committee, he is also one of the newest board members for the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN). He has also been a blogger for Public Libraries Online, co-written chapters in several library anthologies, and co-authored the book Library Service to Tweens.

Part Three: Introduction to Primo APIs

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
Presenters: Craig Rosenbeck

Description: This webinar is an introduction to Primo APIs. This webinar will be an introductory walk through of setting up a Primo API using the ExLibris Developer Network and using an API management plat-form. The two API platform that will be mentioned in this webinar are Postman and Insomnia. There will be an overview of tools that can used to with the API results data.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

Understand the basic workflow of setting up a Primo API
Perform a call to Primo API to produce results

Presenter Bios:

Craig Rosenbeck has deep experience in academic library and information technology and consortia. Craig has developed expert level experience in Information Technology by working for many years in the field and through academic development. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo, a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Master of Information Science from University of North Texas. Craig has published book reviews and presentations at conferences. His reading interests include information technology books and journals, as well as theological books and journals. He is married and enjoys being a husband and a dad.

Tech Requirements

Core Webinars are held in Zoom. Speakers or a headset for listening to the presentation are required. You may interact with the presenter and ask questions through text-based chat. Closed captioning is available in the Zoom platform. The webcast will be recorded and the link to the recording shared with registrants shortly after the live event.