The BIC Library Web Services project is working with the BIC Library Communication Framework (LCF) and NISO FASTEN projects to create a set of standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for use in the library community. The BIC Library Web Services project specifically addresses use cases between libraries and their suppliers of physical books, eBooks and metadata. 

As of July 2019, this suite of library web services will now be called BIC Realtime for Libraries, (in-line with the BIC Realtime APIs which were developed for the book trade in 2016). 

The list of APIs being developed by this project is detailed in the Project Addendum. In summary, these are:

  1. Price & Availability (P&A) 
  2. Quotes List
  3. Quotes
  4. Order
  5. Order List
  6. Order Status Enquiry
  7. Order Cancellation
  8. Retrieve Metadata – MARC for a specified quality level (e.g. Skeleton, Best) 

More details on each of the above can be found here

When there is both sufficient industry adoption of the BIC Realtime for Libraries APIs (listed above) and subsequent demand for others to be developed, BIC will consider running a follow-up project for additional APIs in 2021 – these will be covered by a new policy document.

The BIC Realtime for Libraries Review Group – which meets on an annual basis – will maintain the standard and keep an eye on the number of implementations. Its next meeting will take place on Tuesday 16th March 2021. Any BIC Members wishing to join this Review Group should email: info@bic.org.uk.  

To find out more about the BIC Library Web Services project, see the following documents:

Endorsements

The following organisations publically endorse the use of BIC Realtime for Libraries:

GOLD LEVEL ENDORSERS:

Gold Level policy endorsers commit to implementing the BIC Realtime for Libraries APIs within 18 months of publication. 

  • Askews & Holts Library Services
  • Bibliographic Data Services (BDS)
  • Bromley Libraries 
  • Civica
  • Coventry University
  • Dawson Books 
  • Hammersmith and Fulham Libraries 
  • Imperial College London
  • Infor
  • Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Libraries
  • University of Brighton Library 
  • The University of Liverpool Library
  • University of Nottingham Libraries 
  • Westminster Libraries

SILVER LEVEL ENDORSERS

Silver Level policy endorsers commit to working with BIC to develop these standards-based APIs and bring them to market as soon as is practicable.

  • Axiell ALM Ltd
  • Bibliotheca 
  • Nielsen Book
  • SirsiDynix
  • University of Oxford Libraries

The BIC Realtime for Libraries Implementation Guide (v0.9)
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