Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API vs Open Library

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d96.1%88.2%
Uptime · 30d93.3%81.7%
P50 · ms5161629
P95 · ms13544878
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedMixed — mostly open
Free tierFree — limits not publishedUnlimited within courtesy limits
Rate limitUnpublishedSoft — identified UA appreciated
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API vs Open Library: common questions

Which is more reliable, Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API or Open Library?

On our scheduled checks, Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API leads on measured uptime — Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API at 96.1% versus Open Library at 88.2% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API or Open Library?

Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API has the lower median latency in our checks — Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API responds in 516 ms versus Open Library at 1629 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.

Do Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API and Open Library need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API is callable with no signup, and Open Library is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API and Open Library from the browser?

Only Open Library is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API and Open Library free for commercial use?

Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API has unclear commercial terms, and Open Library has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.