WorldCat · Agentic Access

WorldCat Agentic Access

x-agentic-access generated

WorldCat exposes 58 API operations that an AI agent could call, of which 15 are state-changing ‘acting’ operations. This is a recommended x-agentic-access execution contract — the scope, audience, consequence tier, short-lived token constraints, and escalation each action should carry before it is handed to an autonomous agent.

By consequence: 43 read, 11 write, and 4 safety-critical.

4 operations are classed safety-critical and should require human-in-the-loop approval at runtime.

Contracts are classified heuristically from the provider’s OpenAPI and refresh on every APIs.io network build; audience is bound per deployment. The model follows Curity’s Access Intelligence (apidays Munich 2026). Browse every provider’s agent contracts at agentic-access.apis.io.

LibrariesBibliographic RecordsWorldCatOCLCCatalogingMetadataDiscoveryBooksMediaLinked Data
Operations: 58 Acting: 15 Human-in-the-loop: 4 Method: generated

By consequence

read 43 write 11 safety-critical 4

Highest-consequence actions

The physical and safety-critical operations an agent could invoke — the ones that most warrant scoped tokens, tight TTLs, and escalation. Full per-operation contracts are in the source below.

MethodPathConsequenceHuman-in-loop
PUT /worldcat/manage/lbds/{controlNumber} safety-critical required
DELETE /worldcat/manage/lbds/{controlNumber} safety-critical required
PUT /worldcat/manage/lhrs/{controlNumber} safety-critical required
DELETE /worldcat/manage/lhrs/{controlNumber} safety-critical required

Source

Agentic Access

Raw ↑
generated: '2026-07-15'
method: generated
source: openapi/worldcat-entities-api.yml, openapi/worldcat-knowledge-base-api.yml, openapi/worldcat-metadata-api.yml,
  openapi/worldcat-search-api.yml
description: Recommended x-agentic-access execution contracts, classified heuristically from
  the OpenAPI. A governance starting point for exposing this API to AI agents — review and bind
  audience per deployment. See research/curity/agentic-governance/.
summary:
  operations: 58
  by_action_class:
    connected: 43
    acting: 15
  by_consequence:
    read: 43
    write: 11
    safety-critical: 4
  human_in_the_loop_required: 4
operations:
- path: /entity/{id}
  method: get
  operationId: read-entity-data
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - publicEntities:read_brief_entities
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/collections/search
  method: get
  operationId: find-kb-collections
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/collections/{collection_uid}
  method: get
  operationId: read-kb-collection
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/entries/search
  method: get
  operationId: find-kb-titles
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/entries/{entry_uid}
  method: get
  operationId: read-kb-title
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/providers/search
  method: get
  operationId: find-kb-providers
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /rest/providers/{provider_ID}
  method: get
  operationId: read-kb-provider
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /openurl/resolve
  method: get
  operationId: find-title-by-openurl
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /openurl/mresolve
  method: get
  operationId: find-multiple-titles-by-openurl
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs/validate/{validationLevel}
  method: post
  operationId: validate-a-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs/current
  method: get
  operationId: get-current-oclc-number
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:match_bibs
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs
  method: post
  operationId: bib-create
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: bib-read
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_marc_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: put
  operationId: bib-replace
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/bibs/match
  method: post
  operationId: match-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:match_bibs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/current
  method: get
  operationId: get-current-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/set
  method: post
  operationId: set-a-holding
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/unset
  method: post
  operationId: unset-a-holding
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/{oclcNumber}/set
  method: post
  operationId: set-holding-for-one-or-multiple-institutions
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/{oclcNumber}/unset
  method: post
  operationId: Unset-holding-for-one-or-multiple-institutions
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holdings/move
  method: post
  operationId: move-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_holdings
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution/holding-codes
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-holding-codes
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:get_holding_codes
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/lbds
  method: post
  operationId: lbd-create
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lbds
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/lbds/{controlNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: lbd-read
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lbds
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/lbds/{controlNumber}
  method: put
  operationId: lbd-update
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: safety-critical
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lbds
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 120
      exchange: true
      purpose-required: true
      proof-of-possession: true
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: required
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/lbds/{controlNumber}
  method: delete
  operationId: lbd-delete
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: safety-critical
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lbds
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 120
      exchange: true
      purpose-required: true
      proof-of-possession: true
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: required
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/lhrs
  method: post
  operationId: lhr-create
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: write
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lhrs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 900
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: conditional
      triggers:
      - abnormal
      - high-value
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/lhrs/{controlNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: lhr-read
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lhrs
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/lhrs/{controlNumber}
  method: put
  operationId: lhr-update
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: safety-critical
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lhrs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 120
      exchange: true
      purpose-required: true
      proof-of-possession: true
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: required
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/manage/lhrs/{controlNumber}
  method: delete
  operationId: lhr-delete
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: acting
    consequence: safety-critical
    subject: required
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_institution_lhrs
    audience: null
    token:
      max-ttl: 120
      exchange: true
      purpose-required: true
      proof-of-possession: true
    escalation:
      human-in-the-loop: required
    audit: required
- path: /worldcat/search/bibs-retained-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-retained-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_retained_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/bibs-summary-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-summary-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_summary_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/brief-bibs
  method: get
  operationId: search-brief-bibs
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/brief-bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-brief-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/brief-bibs/{oclcNumber}/other-editions
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-other-editions
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/classification-bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: get-classifications
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/summary-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_summary_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/retained-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: search-retrained-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_retained_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/my-local-bib-data/{controlNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-lbd
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_local_bib_data
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/my-local-bib-data
  method: get
  operationId: search-lbd
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_local_bib_data
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/my-holdings/{controlNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings_private_notes
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/my-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: search-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings_private_notes
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/browse/my-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: browse-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:view_my_holdings_private_notes
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/manage/institution-config/branch-shelving-locations
  method: get
  operationId: manage-institution-branch-config
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:get_holding_codes
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/institution
  method: get
  operationId: find-institution-by-identifier
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:get_holding_codes
    - WorldCatMetadataAPI:manage_bibs
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs-retained-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-retained-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_retained_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs-summary-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-summary-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_summary_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_institution_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs-detailed-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: find-bib-detailed-holdings
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs
  method: get
  operationId: search-bibs
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/brief-bibs
  method: get
  operationId: search-brief-bibs
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/brief-bibs/{oclcNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-brief-bib
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/brief-bibs/{oclcNumber}/other-editions
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-other-editions
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_brief_bib
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/my-holdings/{controlNumber}
  method: get
  operationId: retrieve-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_my_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/my-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: search-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_my_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none
- path: /worldcat/search/v2/retained-holdings
  method: get
  operationId: search-retrained-lhr
  x-agentic-access:
    action-class: connected
    consequence: read
    subject: optional
    scope:
    - wcapi:view_retained_holdings
    token:
      max-ttl: 3600
    audit: none

Work with this as data

Every access contract here is available over the APIs.io API and to AI agents over MCP. Agentic Access is not yet its own endpoint on the v1 API. Reach it through catalog search and the tag graph, or the MCP server.

MCP server

One button, every client — Claude, Cursor, VS Code and the rest.

https://apis.io/mcp

Tools for agentic access

3 MCP tools reach this
  • apis_io_searchSTART HERE — APIs, providers and tags for one query, each with its total.
  • resolveTurn a domain, URL or GitHub org into the provider it belongs to.
  • find_cohortsEvery scored population of providers in the catalog.
All 92 tools

Call it yourself

curl for this page
Search the catalog
curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/search?q=worldcat-agentic-access&limit=10"
Everything under a tag
curl "https://apis.io/api/v1/tags/worldcat-agentic-access"

Discovery needs no key. Ratings and market analysis are Pro.

Get an API key

Free tier, no email required.

A second provider on the same verified email joins the account you already have.