# Source Library - API for AI Systems

> A digital library of translated historical texts (Hermetic, alchemical, Renaissance) with DOI-backed citations.

## What You Can Do

Search and cite rare 15th-18th century texts translated from Latin and German. All quotes include proper academic citations with DOIs.

**Example tasks:**
- "Find what Paracelsus wrote about the quinta essentia and cite a passage"
- "Search for 16th century texts about transmutation and summarize them"
- "Get a primary source quote about the philosopher's stone with DOI citation"
- "What did Renaissance alchemists believe about the relationship between soul and matter?"

## MCP Server (Recommended)

For Claude Desktop or other MCP-compatible clients, install the MCP server for the best experience:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "source-library": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@source-library/mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}
```

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

**Tools provided:**
- `search_library` - Search across all translated books
- `get_quote` - Get a passage with formatted citations
- `get_book` - Get detailed book information

**npm:** https://www.npmjs.com/package/@source-library/mcp-server
**GitHub:** https://github.com/Embassy-of-the-Free-Mind/sourcelibrary-v2/tree/main/mcp-server

## REST API

Base URL: `https://sourcelibrary.org/api`

### Search the Library

```
GET /search?q={query}
```

**Parameters:**
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| q | string | Search query (required) - searches titles, authors, and full text |
| language | string | Filter by original language: Latin, German, French, etc. |
| has_doi | boolean | Only return books with DOIs |
| has_translation | boolean | Only return books with translations |
| limit | number | Max results (default 20) |
| offset | number | Pagination offset |

**Example:**
```
GET /search?q=philosopher's stone&language=Latin&has_doi=true
```

**Response:**
```json
{
  "results": [
    {
      "id": "6836f8ee811c8ab472a49e36",
      "title": "Novum lumen chemicum",
      "display_title": "A New Light of Alchemy",
      "author": "Michael Sendivogius",
      "published": "1604",
      "language": "Latin",
      "translation_percent": 100,
      "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.18053506"
    }
  ],
  "total": 15
}
```

### Get a Quote with Citation

```
GET /books/{book_id}/quote?page={page_number}
```

**Parameters:**
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| page | number | Page number (required) |
| include_original | boolean | Include original language text (default true) |
| include_context | boolean | Include adjacent pages for context |

**Example:**
```
GET /books/6836f8ee811c8ab472a49e36/quote?page=57
```

**Response:**
```json
{
  "quote": {
    "translation": "The fifth essence is that most pure and subtle substance which, being separated from the grossness of the elements, retains the virtue of the whole...",
    "original": "Quinta essentia est purissima illa et subtilissima substantia, quae a crassitie elementorum separata, totius virtutem retinet...",
    "page": 57
  },
  "book": {
    "title": "Two Treatises",
    "author": "Cornelius Drebbel",
    "published": "1628"
  },
  "citation": {
    "inline": "(Drebbel 1628, p. 57)",
    "footnote": "Cornelius Drebbel, Two Treatises, trans. Source Library (2025), 57. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18053504.",
    "doi_url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18053504"
  }
}
```

### Get Book Metadata

```
GET /books/{book_id}
```

Returns full book information including title, author, language, publication date, page count, DOI, edition info, and summary.

### List All Books

```
GET /books
```

Returns all books in the library with metadata.

## Citation Format

All published editions have DOIs via Zenodo. When citing Source Library translations:

**Inline:** (Author Year, p. N)
**Footnote:** Author, Title, trans. Source Library (Year), Page. DOI: ...
**Bibliography:** Author. Title. Translated by Source Library. Year. DOI: ...

## Collection Overview

The library contains 500+ texts focused on:

- **Alchemy** - Transmutation, philosopher's stone, laboratory practices
- **Hermeticism** - Corpus Hermeticum commentaries, prisca theologia
- **Neoplatonism** - Ficino, Pico, Florentine Academy works
- **Paracelsian medicine** - Chemical philosophy, spagyrics
- **Rosicrucianism** - Fama Fraternitatis, manifestos, responses
- **Kabbalah** - Christian Kabbalah, Renaissance interpretations
- **Natural magic** - Agrippa, Porta, sympathetic correspondences

**Languages:** Latin (primary), German, French, Italian
**Period:** 1450-1750
**Translations:** AI-assisted with original language preserved for verification

## Example Conversations

**Research query:**
> "What did Paracelsus write about the quinta essentia? Give me a quote with citation."

**Historical investigation:**
> "Find 16th century Latin texts about transmutation and summarize their main arguments."

**Academic writing:**
> "I need a primary source quote about Renaissance alchemy for my paper, with proper DOI citation."

**Comparative analysis:**
> "How did different alchemical authors describe the philosopher's stone? Compare three sources."

**Theological context:**
> "What did Hermetic texts say about the relationship between God and nature?"

## Contact

- **Website:** https://sourcelibrary.org
- **Developers:** https://sourcelibrary.org/developers
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/Embassy-of-the-Free-Mind/sourcelibrary-v2
- **Email:** derek@ancientwisdomtrust.org