Reconnecting with the Web: an introduction to the possibilities available through Web Service APIs

抄録

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) give developers access to the content and services of most major web sites such as Twitter, Flickr, Instagram, Vimeo, Facebook and more. They offer a way for library sites and its content to maintain relevancy and allow ways for their content to be more easily found via SEO. APIs give developers the ability to both deliver content to and receive content from external web services. For example, uploading images and metadata to Flickr or pulling in images and metadata from Instagram to display on your library's web site. Using APIs gives you the ability to get your library content into the digital places where people actually go to on the web. This article discusses what APIs are in a technical sense, how they are valuable to libraries and how the Miami University Libraries have utilized APIs to enhance outreach and communication.