Accessing pre-existing databases

1. Online user interface

Your friendly library catalog!

French Book Trade in Enlightenment Europe http://fbtee.uws.edu.au/stn/interface/

1. API [application programming interface] (including SPARQL endpoints for linked data)

APIs allow you to query a database often with more flexibility than a user interface. You can display the results in your browser and also download them to use offline.

You can notice that API queries are managed through the URL: https://www.europeana.eu/api/v2/search.json?wskey=xxxx&query=lisa+NOT+mona

(You do need an API key to access the Europeana API Console)

The Old Bailey Online API Demonstrator is friendly place to start exploring how APIs work: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/obapi/

https://query.wikidata.org/

1. Download .sql files

Sometimes you will encounter entire MySQL (or other) databases available for download online.

Exercise

We are going to explore the database from the French Book Trade in Enlightenment Europe. Navigate over to this page, download the database, and then open up MAMP if you wish to follow along on your own computer.

MAMP

1. Structure

1. Data normalization issues

FRBR

1. Redesign challenges

• Centralizing all person Entities
• Connecting to BnF and CERL authority records for people, places, and books

What do you do with the database?

Come to a future workshop to learn about writing SQL queries and making visualizations and maps!