What is Data Library?¶
A Data Library is a hosted folder that CartoScope uses as a dataset catalog source. It contains a datasets.parquet metadata index alongside the actual processed datasets, which CartoScope reads to populate the Datasets browse view.
Default Library: CartoStore
Out of the box, CartoScope is connected to CartoStore — the official public data repository maintained by the CartoScope team. CartoStore contains ready-to-use high-resolution spatial datasets across diverse species, tissues, and technologies.
Custom Libraries
You can register additional libraries to browse and manage your own datasets from the same interface. A custom library is typically a folder you control, hosted on AWS S3 or any HTTPS-accessible server.
Libraries generated by CartoMint use a subfolder named metadb as the library root and produce a compatible datasets.parquet automatically.
Benefits of custom libraries
- Unified interface: Browse your private datasets alongside (or instead of) CartoStore without leaving CartoScope.
- Easy switching: The library dropdown lets you switch between CartoStore and any registered library in one click.
- Multiple libraries: Register as many libraries as needed — for example, one per project or lab.
- No code required: Adding a library only requires providing the root URL; CartoScope validates the connection automatically.