Discover & IIIF

What is a IIIF Manifest?

An IIIF manifest is a structured digital document, typically in JSON format, that provides information about a collection of images. This file contains metadata, sequencing details, and links to images, ensuring they are displayed in an organized manner. Manifests follow IIIF standards, making it easier for viewers and applications to retrieve and render content correctly.

To learn more about IIIF, visit the IIIF Consortium homepage.

Using IIIF Manifests from Discover

Discover York Digital Library utilizes IIIF manifests as the foundation of its digital delivery and discovery process. Our newly migrated collections are IIIF-compliant, allowing users to navigate away from the platform while still accessing and utilizing content for research and reference. Our primary content viewer is Universal Viewer, but users can choose to view manifests in a viewer of their preference.

How to Use a Manifest with Another Viewer

Example: University of York Photographs Collection

Each collection page includes a section titled "How to cite collection data set." Clicking this link provides access to the IIIF manifest URL for the collection.

For example, the IIIF manifest for the University of York Photographs Collection can be accessed here:
🔗 https://discover.york.ac.uk/ark:/36941/ahc13192/presentation/3/collection

To view this manifest in Mirador Viewer:

1. Copy the manifest URL.

2. Open the Mirador Viewer demo page.

3. Click the "New Resource" icon (top-left "+" icon).

4. Select "Add Resource" at the bottom right.

5. Paste the manifest URL.

The manifest should now appear in the list. You can add multiple manifests from our collections to create a personal reference list or custom collection.