This presentation was given by Alan Manifold at the 2014 ANZREG Seminar in Melbourne, VIC, held at the State Library of Victoria. It gives a quick overview of the creation by staff of the State Library of Victoria of a set of APIs (Application Programming Interface) to access directly the data within the DigiTool system. This allows users to create their own mashups and for the library to fashion a more flexible interface for using digital objects without being tied too closely to a DigiTool syntax and DigiTool viewers.

1. 7 February 2014
Alan Manifold
Digital and Library Applications Manager
DigiTool API Project

2. P–2
Project Overview
Create alternate interfaces to images
For programmers (in SLV or outside)
Prefiltered
Copyright status
Cultural sensitivity

3. P–3
DigiTool already has APIs, right?
Too complex
Difficult to understand
Even harder to use
Not consistent
Not focused the way we need them to be
No filtering

4. P–4
What new APIs can do
Deliver image file in raw format
No DigiTool viewer
Direct access to parts of complex objects
E.g. individual postcards in a catalogued set
Augment DigiTool data
Voyager fields
Primo tags and reviews

5. P–5
Design Goals
Limited set of calls
Consistent and simple syntax
Program will handle all complexity
Filter out images as required
Access information not in any current API call
Combination of calls to DigiTool and Primo

6. P–6
Let’s See!

7. P–7
Search
<base_url>/search/<type>/<search>[/numrecs/startrec]
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/search/author/fazzino
<search_results>
<status>OK</status>
<error_message></error_message>
<matching_records>6</matching_records>
<records>
<record position="1">
<record_key>951351</record_key>
<record_type>simple_image</record_type>
<record_summary_url>
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/record_summary/951351
</record_summary_url>
</record>
…
</records>
<nextrange_url>
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/search/lygon/20/21
</nextrange_url>
</search_results>

8. P–8
Record Summary
<base_url>/record_summary/<number>
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/record_summary/951351
<record_summary>
<record_key>951351</record_key>
<record_type>simple_image</record_type>
<image_type>image/jpeg</image_type>
<record_access_url>
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/access_record/951351
</record_access_url>
<record_metadata>
<title>No. 52 Lygon Buildings [technical drawing]</title>
<author>Fazzino, M., draftsperson.</author>
<date>1979.</date>
<copyright>
This work is in copyright.
Copyright has been assigned to the State Library of Victoria
</copyright>
…
</record_metadata>
</record_summary>

9. P–9
Access Record
<base_url>/access_record/<number>
http://devel.api.slv.vic.gov.au/access_record/951351