Welcome to Unlocking Data
This workbook accompanies the workshop series Unlocking Data: A Gentle Introduction to APIs.
These workshops are designed for people with no programming experience who want to start working with APIs, particularly web APIs. While developed with humanities researchers in mind, the content is equally valuable for information professionals in archives and libraries, as well as anyone beginning their journey into the world of APIs.
These workshops are designed to be self-taught, allowing you to learn at your own pace without installing any specific software. We’ve included interactive examples so you can practice as you learn. We also offer in-person workshops to guide participants through the basics and provide hands-on support.
What You’ll Learn
No Coding Required
Start with zero programming experience. Learn API fundamentals through interactive examples in your browser.
Practical Tools
Master Postman (and open-source alternatives like Bruno) for API testing, then progress to Python for automation.
Real-World Data
Work with cultural heritage APIs from institutions like the Metropolitan Museum, the Digital Public Library of America, and more.
Workshop Series
Each workshop in this series can be followed independently, depending on your interests, previous knowledge, and goals. Each workshop includes guided explanations of how to interact with different API providers, followed by hands-on exercises to practice the concepts.
Interacting with APIs
Discover how to interact with APIs using endpoints, request methods, and practical exercises.
Using Postman
Master API testing with Postman, including GET, POST, and DELETE requests with hands-on GitHub API exercises.
Programmatic Access
Learn how to interact with APIs programmatically using Python for automated data collection.
Data Analysis
Apply your API knowledge to a complete research project: collect and analyze Medieval Art metadata from the Met Museum to uncover thematic patterns.
API Catalog
Explore APIs from major cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum, Library of Congress, Smithsonian, and international collections like Europeana and Rijksmuseum.
Let’s get started! 🚀