MCP Open Library vs Metmuseum MCP
A side-by-side look at the MCP Open Library and Metmuseum MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Open Library for art & culture work as a local process; choose Metmuseum MCP for art & culture as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Open Library when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Art & Culture domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
search_books, get_book_by_title, get_book_by_id.
Choose Metmuseum MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Art & Culture domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
list-departments, search-museum-objects, get-museum-object.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Art & Culture | Art & Culture |
| Quality signal | 67/100 · Great | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 95 | 35 |
| Directory activity | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | 4 |
| Full listing | View MCP Open Library | View Metmuseum MCP |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Open Library tools 7
search_booksSearch Open Library across titles, authors, subjects, places, people, publishers and ISBNs. Provide at least one search criterion: q, title, author, subject, place, person, publisher, isbn; combining several narrows the search. Returns at most `limit` results (default 10) together with `num_found`, the total number of matches; page through them with `offset`. Each result carries `best_edition` — one edition of the work, with its `isbn_13`/`isbn_10` where Open Library has them, and its `edition_key`, which can be passed to `get_book_by_id` as `{ idType: "olid" }` for that edition's full record.get_book_by_titleSearch for a book by its title on Open Library. Returns at most `limit` results (default 10) together with `num_found`, the total number of matches; page through them with `offset`. Each result carries `best_edition` — one edition of the work, with its `isbn_13`/`isbn_10` where Open Library has them, and its `edition_key`, which can be passed to `get_book_by_id` as `{ idType: "olid" }` for that edition's full record.get_book_by_idGet detailed information about a book using its identifier (ISBN, LCCN, OCLC, OLID).get_authors_by_nameSearch for author information on Open Library. Returns at most `limit` authors (default 10) together with `num_found`, the total number of matches; page through them with `offset`. Each result's `key` can be passed to `get_author_info` for that author's full record.get_author_infoGet detailed information for a specific author using their Open Library Author Key (e.g. OL23919A).get_author_photoGet the URL for an author's photo using their Open Library Author ID (OLID e.g. OL23919A). Reports when no photo exists rather than returning a URL to a blank placeholder.get_book_coverGet the URL for a book's cover image using a key (ISBN, OCLC, LCCN, OLID, ID) and value. Reports when no cover exists rather than returning a URL to a blank placeholder.
Metmuseum MCP tools 4
list-departmentsList all departments in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met Museum)search-museum-objectsSearch for objects in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met Museum). Will return Total objects found, followed by a paginated list of Object Ids. If the Met Explorer app (open-met-explorer) is open and the user is referring to its existing results, prefer using those results from context instead of calling this tool. The parameter title should be set to true if you want to search for objects by title. The parameter hasImages is false by default, but can be set to true to return only objects with images. Additional optional filters are available for highlights, tags, on-view status, artist/culture match, medium, geographic location, and date range. Use page and pageSize to paginate results.get-museum-objectGet a museum object by its ID, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection. Use this when the user asks for deeper details on a specific object ID.open-met-explorerOpen the interactive Met Explorer app for browsing and filtering objects. For exploration intents, pass q so the app can run a live search on open. After opening, keep your chat handoff short and UI-focused. For deeper details on a specific object ID, prefer get-museum-object.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
MCP Open Library
{
"mcpServers": {
"8ensmith-mcp-open-library": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-open-library"
]
}
}
}
Metmuseum MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"mikechao-metmuseum-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"metmuseum-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Open Library is categorized under Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. Metmuseum MCP belongs to Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Open Library for art & culture work and Metmuseum MCP for art & culture.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
MCP Open Library is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Metmuseum MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add 8ensmith-mcp-open-library and mikechao-metmuseum-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Open Library has a quality signal of 67/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 95 GitHub stars. Metmuseum MCP has 64/100 (Good) with 6 views, 0 installs and 35 GitHub stars.