ask_library

A read tool on the Metis Public Health MCP server.

SERVERMetis Public Health SOURCEsveritg/metis_ph

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/sveritg-metis-ph/ask-library.md

WHAT IT DOES

What ask_library does on Metis Public Health

AI agents call ask_library to retrieve information from Metis Public Health without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why ask_library is rated Low

The tool performs information retrieval from a local PDF library without modifying, executing, or deleting data. Despite the empty description, the context (server purpose as a 'research companion' that 'answers from' indexed documents) and naming convention align with Read operations. Confidence is moderate-to-high because the description is missing, but the function is sufficiently clear from context.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'ask_library' indicates querying an indexed PDF library. The server description states it 'answers from the user's own indexed PDF library with page-level citations' and 'keeps all data on the user's machine.' This is a retrieval/query operation…

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs ask_library safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Metis Public Health, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For ask_library, this is the rule to start with:

ask_library Allowed

ask_library is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "ask_library": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Metis Public Health, apply this rule, and every ask_library call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about ask_library

What does the ask_library tool do? +

ask_library is a read tool on the Metis Public Health MCP server. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Metis Public Health MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on ask_library? +

Register the Metis Public Health MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ask_library: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Metis Public Health. Nothing to install.

What risk level is ask_library? +

ask_library is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit ask_library? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ask_library rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block ask_library completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ask_library. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides ask_library? +

ask_library is provided by the Metis Public Health MCP server (sveritg/metis_ph). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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