diff --git a/fedireads/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/fedireads/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 9e1ac6ca3..9b9cc4293 100644
--- a/fedireads/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/fedireads/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
         data = resp.json()
         results = []
 
-        for doc in data['docs'][:10]:
+        for doc in self.parse_search_data(data)[:10]:
             results.append(self.format_search_result(doc))
         return results
 
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
         return book
 
 
+    @abstractmethod
+    def parse_search_data(self, data):
+        ''' turn the result json from a search into a list '''
+
+
     @abstractmethod
     def format_search_result(self, search_result):
         ''' create a SearchResult obj from json '''
diff --git a/fedireads/connectors/fedireads_connector.py b/fedireads/connectors/fedireads_connector.py
index 1fa49ebcd..a156f1e61 100644
--- a/fedireads/connectors/fedireads_connector.py
+++ b/fedireads/connectors/fedireads_connector.py
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         return SearchResult(**search_result)
 
 
+    def parse_search_data(self, data):
+        return data
+
+
     def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
         ''' pull up a book record by whatever means possible '''
         book = models.Book.objects.select_subclasses().filter(
diff --git a/fedireads/connectors/openlibrary.py b/fedireads/connectors/openlibrary.py
index 5d4b272fa..94f13f6d4 100644
--- a/fedireads/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/fedireads/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         )
 
 
+    def parse_search_data(self, data):
+        return data.get('docs')
+
+
     def get_or_create_book(self, olkey):
         ''' pull up a book record by whatever means possible.
         if you give a work key, it should give you the default edition,
diff --git a/fedireads/connectors/self_connector.py b/fedireads/connectors/self_connector.py
index dfcd36459..8e09e3131 100644
--- a/fedireads/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/fedireads/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         return search_results
 
 
+    def parse_search_data(self, data):
+        return data
+
+
     def format_search_result(self, book):
         return SearchResult(
             book.title,
diff --git a/fedireads/views.py b/fedireads/views.py
index 6cfe7c38b..74bd6b8f6 100644
--- a/fedireads/views.py
+++ b/fedireads/views.py
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ def get_activity_feed(user, filter_level, model=models.Status):
     return activities
 
 
-@login_required
 def search(request):
     ''' that search bar up top '''
     query = request.GET.get('q')