# Eth Library Mcp

> MCP Server for ETH Library Zurich – Access 30M+ resources (books, maps, images, archives) via Discovery & Persons API

- **Type:** MCP server
- **Install:** `agentstack add mcp-malkreide-eth-library-mcp`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [malkreide](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/malkreide)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Integrations](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/integrations)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [malkreide](https://github.com/malkreide)
- **Source:** https://github.com/malkreide/eth-library-mcp

## Install

```sh
agentstack add mcp-malkreide-eth-library-mcp
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

> 🇨🇭 **Part of the [Swiss Public Data MCP Portfolio](https://github.com/malkreide)**

# 🏛️ eth-library-mcp

[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
[](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)
[](https://developer.library.ethz.ch)
[](https://github.com/malkreide/eth-library-mcp/actions/workflows/ci.yml)

🌐 **English** | **[Deutsch](README.de.md)**

> MCP server giving AI models direct access to 30M+ resources at ETH Library Zurich – books, maps, images, archival material, and linked-data person records.

### Demo

---

## Overview

**eth-library-mcp** connects AI assistants like Claude to the largest natural-science library in Switzerland. It exposes full-text search, archive-level queries, resource-type filtering, and person lookups via the ETH Library's Discovery and Persons APIs – all through a single, standardised MCP interface.

**7 Tools · 3 APIs · 2 Resources · 2 Prompts**

**MCP Protocol Version:** [`2025-06-18`](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/) (via `mcp[cli]>=1.0.0, ⚠️ **Known issue (BUG-02):** The tool `eth_search_persons` is currently non-functional because the Persons API endpoint returns HTTP 404. The correct URL needs to be verified at [developer.library.ethz.ch](https://developer.library.ethz.ch). All other 6 tools work correctly.

**Anchor demo query:** *"Find historical documents about Zurich school history in the ETH Library archives."*

---

## Features

- 🔍 **Full-text search** over 30M+ resources with fields, operators, and facets
- 📖 **Resource details** – full metadata via MMS-ID
- 🗂️ **Archive search** – ETH University Archives, Max Frisch, Thomas Mann, Graphische Sammlung, Bildarchiv
- 🏷️ **Resource type filter** – books, maps, images, archival material and more
- 🎓 **Education search** – curated workflow optimised for pedagogy and school history
- 👤 **Person search** with linked-data enrichment (Wikidata, GND, Metagrid) *(BUG-02: currently unavailable)*
- 📋 **Server overview** – all resource types and archives at a glance
- 🗣️ **Built-in prompts** – structured research and education-research workflows
- ☁️ **Dual transport** – stdio for Claude Desktop, Streamable HTTP/SSE for cloud deployment

---

## Prerequisites

- Python 3.11+
- A free API key from [developer.library.ethz.ch](https://developer.library.ethz.ch)

---

## Installation

```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/malkreide/eth-library-mcp.git
cd eth-library-mcp

# Install
pip install -e .

# Or with uv (recommended)
uv pip install -e .
```

---

## Quickstart

```bash
# Set the API key
export ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY=your_key_here   # macOS / Linux
# $env:ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY = "your_key_here"  # Windows (PowerShell)

# Start the server (stdio mode for Claude Desktop)
python -m eth_library_mcp.server
```

> Without an API key the server returns a helpful error message with the registration link – no crashes.

Try it immediately in Claude Desktop:

> *"Find books about Swiss education history in the ETH Library."*
> *"Search the Max Frisch archive for manuscripts about Zurich."*

[→ More use cases by audience →](EXAMPLES.md)

---

## Configuration

### Environment Variables

| Variable | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| `ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY` | API key for Discovery & Persons API | ✅ |

### Claude Desktop Configuration

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "eth-library": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "eth_library_mcp.server"],
      "env": {
        "ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Config file locations:**
- macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

### Cloud Deployment (SSE for browser access)

For use via **claude.ai in the browser** (e.g. on managed workstations without local software):

```bash
python -m eth_library_mcp.server --http --port 8000
```

The HTTP transport binds to `127.0.0.1` by default. To expose it on another
interface, pass `--host` explicitly:

```bash
# Only behind a reverse-proxy / firewall that terminates TLS and enforces auth.
python -m eth_library_mcp.server --http --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
```

> ⚠️ **Do not bind to `0.0.0.0` without a reverse proxy.** The server has no
> built-in auth, rate-limiting or TLS — any LAN neighbour could call your tools.

> 💡 *"stdio for the developer laptop, HTTP for the browser — behind a proxy."*

---

## Available Tools

### Discovery API (api.library.ethz.ch)

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `eth_search_resources` | Full-text search over 30M+ resources with fields, operators, facets |
| `eth_get_resource` | Full metadata for a specific resource via MMS-ID |
| `eth_search_archive` | Search within a specific archive (University Archives, Max Frisch, Thomas Mann, etc.) |
| `eth_search_by_type` | Filter by resource type (books, maps, images, archival material, etc.) |
| `eth_search_education` | Curated search for education topics (pedagogy, school history, etc.) |

### Persons API

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `eth_search_persons` | Person search with linked-data enrichment (Wikidata, GND, Metagrid) — ⚠️ BUG-02 |

### Utilities

| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `eth_library_info` | Server overview: all types and archives at a glance |

### Resources & Prompts

| Item | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `eth://resource-types` | Resource | All available resource types |
| `eth://archives` | Resource | All available archives and collections |
| `research-workflow` | Prompt | Structured research workflow |
| `education-research` | Prompt | Education topics workflow (Schulamt-optimised) |

### Query Syntax

The Discovery API uses structured queries:

```
field,operator,value
```

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `any` | All fields (recommended for starters) |
| `title` | Title only |
| `creator` | Author / creator |
| `sub` | Subject headings / topics |

| Operator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `contains` | Term is present |
| `exact` | Exact match |
| `begins_with` | Starts with |

**Examples:**

```
any,contains,Volksschule Zürich
title,contains,Pädagogik
creator,exact,Einstein Albert
sub,contains,Bildungsforschung
title,contains,Schule;sub,contains,Geschichte
```

### Available Archives

| Identifier | Description |
|---|---|
| `ETH_Hochschularchiv` | Institutional memory of ETH Zurich |
| `ETH_MaxFrischArchiv` | Estate of Swiss author Max Frisch |
| `ETH_ThomasMannArchiv` | Letters and documents of Thomas Mann |
| `ETH_GraphischeSammlung` | Prints, drawings, graphic works |
| `ETH_Bildarchiv` | Science/technology history, Swissair (E-Pics) |

### Example Use Cases

| Query | Tool |
|---|---|
| *"Find books about Zurich school history"* | `eth_search_education` |
| *"What's in the Max Frisch archive?"* | `eth_search_archive` |
| *"Find historical maps of Switzerland"* | `eth_search_by_type` |
| *"Get full metadata for resource ID 991170525863705501"* | `eth_get_resource` |
| *"Which archives does the ETH Library hold?"* | `eth_library_info` |

---

## Project Structure

```
eth-library-mcp/
├── src/
│   └── eth_library_mcp/
│       ├── __init__.py        # Package init, version
│       └── server.py          # FastMCP server, all tools
├── tests/
│   └── test_server.py         # Unit tests
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── CONTRIBUTING.md             # Contribution guide (English)
├── CONTRIBUTING.de.md          # Contribution guide (German)
├── SECURITY.md                 # Security posture (English)
├── SECURITY.de.md              # Security posture (German)
├── LICENSE
├── README.md                  # This file (English)
├── README.de.md               # German version
├── claude_desktop_config.json # Example Claude Desktop configuration
└── pyproject.toml             # Build configuration
```

---

## Testing

```bash
# Unit tests (no API key required)
PYTHONPATH=src pytest tests/ -m "not live"

# Integration tests (API key required)
ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY=xxx pytest tests/ -m "live"
```

---

## Safety & Limits

- **Read-only:** All tools perform HTTP GET requests only — no data is written, modified, or deleted.
- **No personal data:** The APIs return bibliographic metadata (titles, authors, subjects, identifiers). No personally identifiable information (PII) is processed or stored by this server.
- **Authentication:** A free API key from [developer.library.ethz.ch](https://developer.library.ethz.ch) is required. The key is read from the `ETH_LIBRARY_API_KEY` environment variable and never logged or transmitted to third parties.
- **Rate limits:** The ETH Library API enforces rate limits per API key. The server enforces a 30-second timeout per request. Use `limit` and `offset` parameters conservatively.
- **Data freshness:** Results reflect the ETH Library catalogue at query time. No caching is performed by this server.
- **Terms of service:** Bibliographic metadata is published as **Public Domain** — free for all uses. API access is subject to the [ETH Library Developer Portal](https://developer.library.ethz.ch) terms.
- **Known issue (BUG-02):** `eth_search_persons` returns HTTP 404 — the Persons API endpoint URL needs verification. All other 6 tools work correctly.
- **No guarantees:** This is a community project, not affiliated with the ETH Library or ETH Zurich. Availability depends on upstream APIs.

---

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) ([Deutsch](CONTRIBUTING.de.md)) for guidelines.

---

## Security

Read-only, no PII, a single upstream API key, and a fixed egress allow-list of
ETH Library endpoints. See [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) ([Deutsch](SECURITY.de.md))
for the full security posture and accepted-risk decisions.

---

## Changelog

See [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md)

---

## License

- **Server code:** MIT License — see [LICENSE](LICENSE)
- **Bibliographic metadata:** Public Domain (no restrictions)
- **API documentation:** [developer.library.ethz.ch](https://developer.library.ethz.ch)

---

*Powered by [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) • 2 APIs • 7 Tools • 2 Resources • 2 Prompts*

## Installation

Run via [`uv`](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)'s `uvx` — no clone or manual install needed. Add to your MCP client config (`mcpServers` for Claude Desktop, Cursor and Windsurf; use a top-level `servers` key for VS Code in `.vscode/mcp.json`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "eth-library-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "eth-library-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Source & license

This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [malkreide](https://github.com/malkreide)
- **Source:** [malkreide/eth-library-mcp](https://github.com/malkreide/eth-library-mcp)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/mcp-malkreide-eth-library-mcp
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/malkreide
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.