# Literature Clock (npm · literature-clock-mcp)

A line for the current minute, from literature, copyright-free books, or an original voice.

- Trust score: 81/100 (high trust)
- Change this week: +4
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-10-18

## Components

- npm · `literature-clock-mcp`: 81/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp)

## Channel facts

- Registry: `npm`
- Package: `literature-clock-mcp`
- Version: `1.6.2`
- Transport: `stdio`

## Trust breakdown

How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically from public evidence about the published package, including repeated runs of it in an isolated sandbox, and we only credit what we can confirm. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-10-18.

- **Supply Chain Security**: 98/100
  - No malware found by supply-chain analysis.
  - No known CVEs affecting this package version or its production dependencies.
  - No install/post-install scripts declared.
  - 31 of 93 dependencies flagged as unhealthy.
- **Provenance & Transparency**: 45/100
  - Source repository is publicly reachable at the declared URL.
  - Provenance check failed: no build-provenance attestation is published.
  - Clear OSI-approved license (Apache-2.0).
  - Actively maintained (last published 19 days ago).
  - Disclosure check failed: no security disclosure policy was found in the source repository.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 84/100
  - 100% of prompts and resources have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the item's name).
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (good).
  - Tool/resource definitions use about 1304 tokens (~35/item across 37 items; 8 tools + 29 resources), lean.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 73/100
  - Stability observed for 22 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.
- **Tool Coverage**: 95/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 82% of tool parameters carry a description.
  - Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.
- **Tool Safety**: 100/100
  - No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.
  - We read all 8 captured tool definition(s), and no name or description among them implies an irreversible operation.
  - An AI judge read all 9 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.

## Install

### How do I install the Literature Clock MCP server?

Literature Clock runs locally as an npm package, launched with npx -y literature-clock-mcp. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp -- npx -y literature-clock-mcp
```

### Cursor

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "literature-clock-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "literature-clock-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp -- npx -y literature-clock-mcp
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": [
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "literature-clock-mcp"
      ],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp --command npx --arg -y --arg literature-clock-mcp
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp:
    command: "npx"
    args: ["-y", "literature-clock-mcp"]
```

### Netclaw

```json
{
  "McpServers": {
    "markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp": {
      "Transport": "stdio",
      "Command": "npx",
      "Arguments": [
        "-y",
        "literature-clock-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Vellum

```bash
assistant mcp add markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp -t stdio -c npx -a -y literature-clock-mcp
```

### Other

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "literature-clock-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-10-16 (score 81, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 63 to 67. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 19 days of observed history at the previous scan, 20 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-14 (score 80, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 57 to 60. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 17 days of observed history at the previous scan, 18 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-13 (score 79, 0)

- [functional regression] Security disclosure: unverified → fail

### 2026-10-12 (score 79, +2)

- [functional regression] Security disclosure: fail → unverified

### 2026-10-08 (score 77, +2)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 27 to 40. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 8 days of observed history at the previous scan, 12 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-04 (score 75, +4)

- [functional improvement] Stability: unverified → 0.27

### 2026-09-28 (score 71, 0)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-09-26 (score 71)

First indexed and scored.

## MCP tools (8)

### `describe_server` (~29 tokens)

Describe this server

Call first, and after any denial: auth mode, your scopes, rate limit, and every tool

Output parameters:

- `auth` (object)
- `author` (object)
- `clock` (object)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `prompts` (array)
- `protocols` (object)
- `push` (object)
- `rate_limit` (object)
- `resources` (array)
- `server` (object)
- `tools` (array)
- `ui` (object)
- `you` (object)

### `list_sources` (~24 tokens)

List quote sources

Literature, Books, Mix all, Surprise me, and every original voice id

Output parameters:

- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `sources` (array)

### `get_quote` (~122 tokens)

Quote for a minute

A line for one clock minute. Omit source to use the saved default. avoid skips a line you already have

Input parameters:

- `avoid` (string): Plain line text to skip so the next call can return another line.
- `count` (integer): How many distinct lines. Defaults to 1.
- `source` (string): literature, books, mix, surprise, or a voice id from list_sources. Omit to use the saved default.
- `time` (string): HH:MM, h:mm AM/PM, or "now". Defaults to now.

Output parameters:

- `lines` (array)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `requested_label` (string)
- `requested_source` (string)
- `time` (string)

### `count_lines` (~50 tokens)

Count lines for a minute

How many local lines each source has for one minute. Does not fetch the online library

Input parameters:

- `time` (string): HH:MM, h:mm AM/PM, or "now". Defaults to now.

Output parameters:

- `books` (number)
- `literature_local` (number)
- `mix` (number)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `time` (string)
- `voices` (array)

### `get_settings` (~28 tokens)

Read settings

Read clock defaults, auth mode, rate limit, which tools are enabled, and the quote schedule

Output parameters:

- `activeApiKeys` (number)
- `auditMode` (boolean)
- `authMode` (string)
- `authModes` (array)
- `clock` (object)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `protocols` (object)
- `push` (object)
- `rateLimit` (object)
- `tools` (array)
- `uiRequireAuth` (boolean)

### `update_settings` (~518 tokens)

Update settings

Change clock defaults, auth, rate limit, audit, protocols, the page lock, the quote schedule, MQTT, or one tool gate. Same values as Settings

Input parameters:

- `auditMode` (boolean)
- `authMode` (string)
- `defaultCount` (integer): Lines returned when count is omitted.
- `defaultSource` (string): literature, books, mix, surprise, or a voice id.
- `hourClock` (string): 12-hour or 24-hour clock in the header and on the clock page.
- `mqttClearPassword` (boolean): Remove the saved MQTT password.
- `mqttClientId` (string): Default literature-clock.
- `mqttEnabled` (boolean): Publish the same quote JSON to an MQTT broker.
- `mqttPassword` (string): Stored for the broker. get_settings never returns it. Omit to keep the saved password.
- `mqttTopic` (string): Broker topic. Default literature-clock/quote.
- `mqttUrl` (string): mqtt://host:port or mqtts://host:port. Put the username and password in their own fields.
- `mqttUsername` (string)
- `pushEvents` (boolean): Push on GET /events as an SSE event named quote.
- `pushEveryMinutes` (integer): 0 is off. Otherwise 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60. The HTTP process pushes the current quote on that interval.
- `pushHttp` (boolean): Push that notification on open Streamable HTTP sessions.
- `pushSse` (boolean): Push notifications/literature-clock/quote on open legacy SSE sessions.
- `rateLimit` (integer): Calls allowed per window.
- `rateLimitEnabled` (boolean)
- `rateLimitWindowSec` (integer)
- `sseEnabled` (boolean): GET /sse. At least one protocol must stay on.
- `stdioEnabled` (boolean): stdio transport. At least one protocol must stay on.
- `streamableHttpEnabled` (boolean): POST /mcp. At least one protocol must stay on.
- `timeZone` (string): device, or an IANA zone such as America/Toronto.
- `tool` (string): One tool name to enable, disable, or lock.
- `toolEnabled` (boolean)
- `toolRequireAuth` (boolean): Require a credential for this tool even when auth mode is off.
- `uiRequireAuth` (boolean): Hide the HTML pages until someone signs in at /admin.

Output parameters:

- `activeApiKeys` (number)
- `auditMode` (boolean)
- `authMode` (string)
- `authModes` (array)
- `clock` (object)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `protocols` (object)
- `push` (object)
- `rateLimit` (object)
- `tools` (array)
- `uiRequireAuth` (boolean)

### `list_schemas` (~28 tokens)

List schemas

Names of the line, source, settings, and tool schemas. Call this before get_schema

Output parameters:

- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `schemas` (array)

### `get_schema` (~55 tokens)

Get a schema

JSON Schema for one name from list_schemas. A tool name returns that tool's inputSchema and outputSchema

Input parameters:

- `name` (string, required): A name from list_schemas: quote, source, settings, or a tool name.

Output parameters:

- `description` (string)
- `inputSchema`
- `kind` (string)
- `name` (string)
- `next` (string)
- `ok` (boolean)
- `outputSchema`
- `schema`
- `title` (string)

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: Provenance, Dependencies. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-10-18: 81
- 2026-10-17: 81
- 2026-10-16: 81
- 2026-10-15: 80
- 2026-10-14: 80
- 2026-10-13: 79
- 2026-10-12: 79
- 2026-10-08: 77
- 2026-10-04: 75
- 2026-10-03: 71
- 2026-10-02: 71
- 2026-10-01: 71
- 2026-09-30: 71
- 2026-09-29: 71
- 2026-09-28: 71
- 2026-09-27: 71
- 2026-09-26: 71

## Common questions

### What is the Literature Clock MCP server?

Literature Clock is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as io.github.markusvankempen/literature-clock-mcp. A line for the current minute, from literature, copyright-free books, or an original voice. This page covers its npm package (literature-clock-mcp).

### Is the Literature Clock MCP server safe to use?

Literature Clock scores 81 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. We found no known CVEs affecting it as of 18 October 2026. It declares no install or post-install scripts. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.

### What tools does the Literature Clock MCP server expose?

Literature Clock exposes 8 tools: describe_server, list_sources, get_quote, count_lines, get_settings, and 3 more. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 854 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.

### Is the Literature Clock MCP server still maintained?

Literature Clock is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 18 October 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.

### What licence is the Literature Clock MCP server under?

Literature Clock declares the Apache-2.0 licence, which is OSI-approved. That covers the source only, and says nothing about the cost of any service it calls.

## Links

- npm package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/literature-clock-mcp
- Socket report: https://socket.dev/npm/package/literature-clock-mcp
- Repository: https://github.com/markusvankempen/literature-clock-mcp
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/markusvankempen-literature-clock-mcp/literature-clock-mcp