Any organization or ministry interested in gaining access to the DBL as a Library Card Holder must provide a minimum level of technical expertise.
Applicants should be able to handle the intricacies of accessing a web API. In particular, they must already be proficient at:
- Understanding written web services documentation.
- Making authenticated HTTP requests using any of the usual REST verbs.
- Handling data returned by those requests in the form of XML, JSON, or zip archives containing those formats.
In addition, applicants will need the technical skills and staffing to provide a means for copyright holders to preview and approve presentation of texts before public release.
As the DBL participation grows, we understand that many people and organizations may want to be involved. At the same time, it’s important for applicants to understand that accessing the DBL data for publishing takes a high level of proficiency and dedication. If the requirements above talk about technology you don’t use every day, you should not participate in this phase.
Our Support – We’ll work to quickly resolve any problems with the DBL interface or data. We provide succinct documentation of the application process and to the API (available here). We welcome clarifying questions and feedback regarding the API, but applicants should not expect tutorial-level support in the above requirements.