How do I manage my private bookshelves?

To manage your own library, you must provide an OAuth Access Token. This allows the agent to add, remove, or move volumes in your personal bookshelves.

Can I search for books without an account?

Yes. You only need a Google Books API Key to perform searches across the index. OAuth is only required for library management tasks.

Which AI clients can use this MCP?

This MCP works with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.

Can I filter by book format?

Yes, you can instruct your agent to restrict searches to specific formats like EPUB or filter by whether an ebook is free or paid.

What kind of search filters are available?

You can use advanced filters such as intitle, inauthor, inpublisher, subject, and isbn to narrow down your results.

Can I search for a book specifically by its ISBN?

Yes. Use the search_volumes capability and include isbn: followed by the number in the query string (e.g., isbn:9780141036144).

How do I add a book to my personal 'Favorites' shelf?

Use the add_volume_to_my_bookshelf capability. You will need the volumeId of the book and the shelf ID (usually '0' for Favorites). This requires an OAuth access token.

Can I filter search results to only show free ebooks?

Absolutely. When using search_volumes, set the filter parameter to free-ebooks to restrict results to titles available at no cost.

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Connect Google Books (Alternative) to ChatGPT and Claude

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Search millions of titles and manage your personal library through chat.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Curated set · 12 capabilities

We ship only the actions that matter.

Capability set01 / 03

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 12 available through Google Books.

01
Clear my bookshelf
This capability wipes all volumes from a specific bookshelf. It requires an access token to modify your library.
02
Get my bookshelf
This capability retrieves metadata for a specific bookshelf belonging to the authenticated user.
03
Get user bookshelf
This capability fetches a specific public bookshelf for a given user.
04
List my bookshelf volumes
This capability pulls a list of all volumes contained in one of your authenticated bookshelves.

Capability set02 / 03

05-08

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 12 available through Google Books.

05
List user bookshelves
This capability retrieves a list of public bookshelves associated with a specific user.
06
Move volume in my bookshelf
This capability changes the position of a specific volume within your bookshelf.
07
Remove volume from my bookshelf
This capability deletes a single volume from your bookshelf using an access token.
08
List user bookshelf volumes
This capability lists the volumes found on a user's public bookshelf.

Capability set03 / 03

09-12

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 12 available through Google Books.

09
List my bookshelves
This capability returns a list of all bookshelves owned by the authenticated user.
10
Add volume to my bookshelf
This capability adds a new volume to your bookshelf via an access token.
11
Get volume
This capability retrieves the full details for a specific volume using its unique ID.
12
Search volumes
This capability searches the Google Books database using keywords like title, author, or ISBN.

Real work

What teams actually run

Academic Research

Find specific academic texts using ISBN or subject filters to build a bibliography.

Reading List Organization

Add new finds to your 'To Read' bookshelf using simple text commands.

Fact Checking

Verify publication years or publisher details while writing articles or scripts.

Library Auditing

List all volumes in a specific bookshelf to see what you already own.

Automate a task

Put Google Books to work on one thing.

Step-by-step automations your AI runs through this Connector: the workflow, the prompts to start with, and the exact capabilities behind each move.

One connector, every AI

Google Books works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put Google Books to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Observed, not estimated

949ms average. Fast in production.

Google Books is checked daily against the live service.

Daily averagePeak 1061ms

Oct 3Today

Fastest day: 795ms
Slowest day: 1061ms
14-day trend: Stable-2%

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 12 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of Google Books, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with Google Books. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

Google Books Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_EChmsgTEoMnxtQ0H5RCY7LJZUIi80mFw3y3mVvYD/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
3Click Add and start a new chat — Google Books capabilities are ready to use.

Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-books-alternative-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_EChmsgTEoMnxtQ0H5RCY7LJZUIi80mFw3y3mVvYD/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude
ChatGPT
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf
Claude Code
JetBrains
Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? Set up Google Books in Claude and other AIs

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work Google Books owners hand off.

This MCP is built for anyone who needs to bridge the gap between deep literary research and their digital workspace.

01
Researchers
They hand off the task of finding bibliographic data and specific citations to the agent.
02
Avid Readers
They use the agent to organize reading lists and manage digital libraries through chat.
03
Content Creators
They delegate the verification of author names and publication dates to the agent.

FAQ

Questions Google Books owners ask.

01
How do I manage my private bookshelves?
To manage your own library, you must provide an OAuth Access Token. This allows the agent to add, remove, or move volumes in your personal bookshelves.
02
Can I search for books without an account?
Yes. You only need a Google Books API Key to perform searches across the index. OAuth is only required for library management tasks.
03
Which AI clients can use this MCP?
This MCP works with any compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.
04
Can I filter by book format?
Yes, you can instruct your agent to restrict searches to specific formats like EPUB or filter by whether an ebook is free or paid.
05
What kind of search filters are available?
You can use advanced filters such as intitle, inauthor, inpublisher, subject, and isbn to narrow down your results.
06
Can I search for a book specifically by its ISBN?
Yes. Use the search_volumes capability and include isbn: followed by the number in the query string (e.g., isbn:9780141036144).
07
How do I add a book to my personal 'Favorites' shelf?
Use the add_volume_to_my_bookshelf capability. You will need the volumeId of the book and the shelf ID (usually '0' for Favorites). This requires an OAuth access token.
08
Can I filter search results to only show free ebooks?
Absolutely. When using search_volumes, set the filter parameter to free-ebooks to restrict results to titles available at no cost.

Explore

More in Industry Titans

Connect Google Books to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

We ship only the actions that matter.

01-04

Clear my bookshelf

Get my bookshelf

Get user bookshelf

List my bookshelf volumes

05-08

List user bookshelves

Move volume in my bookshelf

Remove volume from my bookshelf

List user bookshelf volumes

09-12

List my bookshelves

Add volume to my bookshelf

Get volume

Search volumes

What teams actually run

Academic Research

Reading List Organization

Fact Checking

Library Auditing

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

Google Books Connector

Claude Desktop

Researchers

Avid Readers

Content Creators

How do I manage my private bookshelves?

Can I search for books without an account?

Which AI clients can use this MCP?

Can I filter by book format?

What kind of search filters are available?

Can I search for a book specifically by its ISBN?

How do I add a book to my personal 'Favorites' shelf?

Can I filter search results to only show free ebooks?

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Open Library AI Connector

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