Source Library — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects your coding assistant to a curated archive of historical primary sources. It helps find rare texts on Hermeticism and early science with English translations.
claude mcp add --transport http sourcelibrary https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcpWhat Source Library does
The server links your workspace to a digital repository of pre-modern books. Its catalog focuses on alchemy and early scientific works. Records include text extracted with Google Gemini and English translations aligned with original pages.
Every volume receives a persistent DOI identifier. The catalog also indexes bibliographic metadata from databases such as USTC. Citations come ready for scholarly references.
You do not need to build the project locally. The endpoint runs remotely at https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcp. Local services like MongoDB Atlas and Google Gemini API keys are only necessary if you self-host the repository.
What it helps with
- search early treatises on alchemy and Hermeticism
- retrieve primary source quotations with DOI links
- inspect scholarly metadata verified against the USTC database
Example prompts for the agent
- Search for sixteenth-century texts on alchemy translated into English
- Retrieve a citation with a DOI link from Source Library
- Look up bibliographic details and USTC metadata for an early scientific treatise
How to install Source Library
Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http sourcelibrary https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcpPlatform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add source-library --url https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"source-library": {
"url": "https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcp"
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"source-library": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcp"
}
}
}Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http source-library https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Source Library
How to install Source Library in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add --transport http source-library https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcp. The assistant will immediately gain access to the library endpoint.
What does Source Library do?
It lets your assistant query digitized historical books and early modern treatises. You can search translated texts, verify publication metadata, and retrieve citable quotes.
Do I need a Gemini API key to use this MCP server?
Connecting to the hosted endpoint at https://sourcelibrary.org/api/mcp requires no API keys. A Google Gemini key and MongoDB Atlas are only needed if you run the repository locally.
