Release of Snapicat Cataloging Tool from Boston Public Library
Jay Colbert
Dear Colleagues,
Boston Public Library invites you to download and test-drive our new cataloging software Snapicat, a software tool that allows catalogers to query spreadsheets of bibliographic data against OCLC’s bibliographic database with the WorldCat Metadata API 2.0 and identify and download the best matching records. Snapicat is available under an open-source MIT license and is available for free here: https://github.com/boston-library/snapicat.
We at BPL have been using Snapicat to transform some of our cataloging processes using staff ingenuity and creative new workflows that integrate historic inventory data and the labor of non-cataloger data entry specialists. We’re excited to have the chance to present and answer questions about this at OCLC DevConnect 2026 on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11AM Eastern: https://community.oclc.org/t5/devconnect-agenda/transforming-cataloging-workflows-at-boston-public-library-with/ec-p/63613#M18.
If you’re unable to join us at DevConnect, BPL has previously presented about Snapicat at Code4Lib 2026 and at Core Virtual Interest Group Week 2026, with links to presentations and slides available on our GitHub wiki: https://github.com/boston-library/snapicat/wiki/Presentations.
We’re excited to share this new tool with the community and we know that talented developers out there can help make it even better. If you have further questions or if you would like to schedule a demo, please contact either Mike Williams (mwil...@bpl.org) or Jay Colbert (jcol...@bpl.org).