Use of the Finna interface becomes easier

Finna’s material data can be used via the open interface more easily than before. This new functionality provides search results for applications outside Finna through a finished link.

The finished link provides a search query made in the Finna.fi interface and search results in a format suitable for use in the interface. The target group of the functionality includes users of the interface and, of them, especially those who are learning how to use open interfaces.

Materials of Finnish libraries, archives and museums can be used in applications outside Finna through the interface available at api.finna.fi.

“The open interface gives software developers an opportunity to utilise Finna in unprecedented ways. We wanted to further lower the threshold of experimentation and create a functionality that is also suitable for practising software development”, says Erkki Tolonen, Head of Development at Finna.

The link can be used to easily transfer search results and limitations made to a search for use in an external application. The transfer is made by clicking on the “Finna API” link on the bottom right corner of the search result page.

The search result can include, for instance, only pictures that may be edited, and users can check the Finna API link to see how the function is performed as an interface call. This way, users can check how material permitted and intended for teaching use can be obtained on the learning platform as an interface query.

The wish for a link first emerged at hackathons organised by Finna, and organisations participating in Finna saw useful applications for it. The functionality was introduced in Finna at the beginning of the year.

Read more about Finna’s open interface and its terms of use.