Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable libraries to streamline workflows, enhance discovery, and integrate systems in innovative ways—regardless of technical background. In this 60-minute Hive session, multiple speakers will share their best tips, tricks, and practical insights for unlocking the power of APIs in libraries.
Each Hive speaker will present a brief session highlighting their real-world examples of leveraging APIs to improve services, automate tasks, and connect platforms. The session will conclude with a group Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to engage with panelists and explore ideas further.
Speaker: Sean Fitzpatrick
Title: Doing More with Less: Simple API Wins for Library Websites
Many public libraries already have access to useful APIs—but don’t always realize how easy they are to use. This presentation highlights practical, low-effort ways to add dynamic content to library websites, including event listings, book cover feeds, and featured collections. With smaller libraries in mind, Sean will share lightweight approaches that work within limited budgets and technical resources.
Speaker: Clarke Iakovakis
Title: Practical API Workflows for Managing a Research Information System
Research Information Management (RIM) systems centralize publications, grants, and other institutional data. The Oklahoma State University Library administers the university’s RIM system, called Experts Directory and running on the Symplectic Elements platform, using its API to automate data ingest—e.g. appointments, degrees, equipment, and publications—and to migrate records from external data sources. This presentation outlines our workflow using the freemium Postman software for automating record creation and updates. We show how Postman can iterate through a data file and generate XML for each record as the updates run, enabling reliable batch processing.
Speaker: Megan Macken
Title: Overcoming Technical Services Challenges with APIs
Often in technical services we run into frustrating limitations with the systems we're using, or we can imagine how useful it could be if only we had the ability or privileges to make a small change to the system. When we have access to a system via API, opportunities abound to work with the system in efficient and customizable ways. In this session, I will share how to get started with APIs and offer real world examples from technical services to help you envision new approaches to your work and understand the tools you need to become fluent with this technology.
Scheduled Dates
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March 17, 2026, 1:00pm -
2:00pm CDT
Registration closes
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Register |
Instructor(s)
Sean Fitzpatrick is a web designer and developer who has spent more than fifteen years working with public libraries, early literacy organizations, and EdTech teams. He specializes in helping small and mid-sized organizations improve their websites with practical, sustainable design and development solutions. He recently joined Amigos Library Services as an Applications and Software Developer, bringing his extensive experience in web technologies to support member libraries and internal systems.
Clarke Iakovakis is the Scholarly Services Librarian at Oklahoma State University and head of the Scholarly Services & Research Engagement unit in the OSU Libraries. He has a Master of Science in Information Studies from the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas State University. Clarke has worked in public and academic libraries since 2008 in a variety of capacities. Currently, he serves as the library liaison to History, Political Science, American Indian Studies, and Africana Studies. Clarke is interested in Research Information Management Systems, scholarly publishing, open/public access to scholarship, copyright, research data curation & access, programming pedagogy, library instruction, bibliometric analysis, and many other related topics.
Megan Macken is Head, Digital Resources and Discovery Services at Oklahoma State's Edmon Low Library, where she works with a variety of systems that support research and learning, including the integrated library system, Folio/EDS, and the institutional repository, Open Research Oklahoma (ORO). Previously, she worked as a digital scholarship librarian and digital archivist. She has master's degrees in Library Science and the History of Art from Indiana University.