API Wrangler 101
Description
The advancements in information sharing technologies have led to multiple platforms that can be used by librarians to create value-added services and information portals for patrons. Often times patrons need to be directed to these multiple sources in order to obtain the services or information. Even though these services and information are useful, they result in a disoriented landscape for the patrons. Instead of providing the patrons with hundreds of services to keep track of wouldn't it be efficient to provide them a single point of contact? With the markets shifting from isolated and siloed applications to inter-connected applications, more and more providers are releasing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which provide access to their services and information. Wikimedia, New York Times, and NPR are some major stakeholders in information dissemination that expose data through APIs. Library service providers such as ExLibris and SpringShare expose their services through APIs. Sometimes acronyms and technological terms could be overwhelming, but accessing APIs is as simple as using a catalog. Anyone with a basic understanding of programming can learn to use an API in a matter of few hours. Once you understand the basic concepts you can master the skill on your own and become an API master in no time. This will be a hands-on coding session. Please read the attached document for preparation.
Start Date
15-3-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
15-3-2018 3:45 PM
API Wrangler 101
The advancements in information sharing technologies have led to multiple platforms that can be used by librarians to create value-added services and information portals for patrons. Often times patrons need to be directed to these multiple sources in order to obtain the services or information. Even though these services and information are useful, they result in a disoriented landscape for the patrons. Instead of providing the patrons with hundreds of services to keep track of wouldn't it be efficient to provide them a single point of contact? With the markets shifting from isolated and siloed applications to inter-connected applications, more and more providers are releasing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which provide access to their services and information. Wikimedia, New York Times, and NPR are some major stakeholders in information dissemination that expose data through APIs. Library service providers such as ExLibris and SpringShare expose their services through APIs. Sometimes acronyms and technological terms could be overwhelming, but accessing APIs is as simple as using a catalog. Anyone with a basic understanding of programming can learn to use an API in a matter of few hours. Once you understand the basic concepts you can master the skill on your own and become an API master in no time. This will be a hands-on coding session. Please read the attached document for preparation.