Source Library

Name: Source Library
Author: Embassy-of-the-Free-Mind

@Embassy-of-the-Free-Mind

About Source Library

The world's largest library of translated ancient texts. AI-powered OCR and translation of Renaissance and early modern manuscripts.

#alchemy #hermeticism #neoplatonism #rosicrucianism #renaissance #kabbalah

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

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

Tools

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Overview

What is Source Library?

Source Library is an MCP server and CLI that searches, reads, and cites 22,000+ rare pre-modern texts (alchemy, Hermetica, Kabbalah, theology, early science) with AI-generated English translations. It provides 12 tools for full-text and semantic search, reading, quoting, image search, duplicate detection, feedback, and sharing findings. No API key is needed.

How to use Source Library?

Install via npm (npm install -g @source-library/mcp-server) or run directly with npx @source-library/mcp-server. For Claude Code, use claude mcp add source-library -- npx -y @source-library/mcp-server. For Claude Desktop, add a JSON entry to the config file. The CLI supports commands like source-library search "philosopher's stone" and source-library text <book_id> --from=1 --to=50.

Key features of Source Library

12 tools for search, reading, quoting, and curation
22,000+ rare pre-modern texts with AI translations
Semantic passage search using Gemini embeddings
50,000+ book illustrations plus 23,000+ artworks
Citation URLs and DOIs for published editions
Duplicate detection before importing books

Use cases of Source Library

Search for “prima materia” across the collection and compare author treatments
Read the full translation of Fludd’s History of Both Worlds and summarize its cosmology
Find all alchemical emblems depicting the ouroboros with source texts
Locate key passages about the Sun’s centrality in Copernicus’s De Revolutionibus
Submit feedback or share a research dossier with the Source Library team

FAQ from Source Library

What is the difference between `search_translations` and `search_concept`?

search_translations finds literal phrases in translated text; search_concept uses semantic embeddings to find conceptually related passages even when the modern term doesn’t appear.

Do I need an API key to use Source Library?

No, the server works without any API key.

What data does Source Library include?

It includes 22,000+ rare pre-modern texts (alchemy, Hermetica, Kabbalah, theology, early science) and 73,000+ images (book illustrations and standalone artworks from museums).

How are citations handled?

Every page returned includes a citation URL (e.g., https://sourcelibrary.org/book/...?page=57). Published editions have DOIs minted via Zenodo.

What transports and authentication are supported?

The server supports MCP (for Claude Desktop/Code) and a standalone CLI. No authentication is required.

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