Smithsonian MCP vs MCP Open Library
A side-by-side look at the Smithsonian MCP and MCP Open Library MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Smithsonian MCP for art & culture work as a local process; choose MCP Open Library 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 Smithsonian MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Art & Culture domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
SMITHSONIAN_API_KEY, MCP_TRANSPORT, MCP_HOST, MCP_ALLOWED_HOSTS, UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT. - You want tools like
simple_explore, continue_explore, search_collections.
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.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Art & Culture | Art & Culture |
| Quality signal | 57/100 · Good | 67/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | SMITHSONIAN_API_KEYMCP_TRANSPORTMCP_HOSTMCP_ALLOWED_HOSTSUV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 10 | 96 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 18 | 7 |
| Full listing | View Smithsonian MCP | View MCP Open Library |
Tools & capabilities
Smithsonian MCP tools 18
simple_exploreSmart diverse sampling across museums and object types (recommended for general discovery)continue_exploreGet more results about the same topic while avoiding duplicatessearch_collectionsAdvanced search with filters (prioritizes museum-specific results when unit_code specified)search_and_get_first_url**Easiest option**: Search and get validated URL in one step (prevents manual URL construction)get_object_detailsDetailed object informationget_object_urlGet validated object URLs with flexible identifier support (MANDATORY: never construct URLs manually)search_by_unitMuseum-specific searchesget_objects_on_viewFind objects currently on physical exhibitcheck_object_on_viewCheck if a specific object is on displayget_museum_collection_typesGet comprehensive list of object types available in each museum (based on systematic collection sampling)check_museum_has_object_typeCheck if a specific museum has objects of a particular type (e.g., paintings, sculptures)get_smithsonian_unitsList all museums- +6 more on the listing page
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.
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.
Smithsonian MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"molanojustin-smithsonian-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"at"
],
"env": {
"SMITHSONIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_SMITHSONIAN_API_KEY_HERE",
"MCP_TRANSPORT": "YOUR_MCP_TRANSPORT_HERE",
"MCP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_HOST_HERE",
"MCP_ALLOWED_HOSTS": "YOUR_MCP_ALLOWED_HOSTS_HERE",
"UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT": "YOUR_UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
MCP Open Library
{
"mcpServers": {
"8ensmith-mcp-open-library": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-open-library"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Smithsonian MCP is categorized under Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Open Library belongs to Art & Culture and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Smithsonian MCP for art & culture work and MCP Open Library 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.
Smithsonian MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. MCP Open Library 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 molanojustin-smithsonian-mcp and 8ensmith-mcp-open-library as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Smithsonian MCP has a quality signal of 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 10 GitHub stars. MCP Open Library has 67/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 96 GitHub stars.