Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API — MCP Server
Connects AI clients to Northwestern University Library digitized archives. Searches records, retrieves item metadata, and serves IIIF manifests.
claude mcp add --transport http dc-api https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcpWhat Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API does
This server exposes Northwestern University cultural collections to coding agents. It supplies tools for natural language catalog queries, semantic discovery, and visual similarity matching across items. Assistants can also inspect complete item records or request IIIF manifests for individual works and entire series.
A hosted HTTP endpoint operates at https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp, avoiding local package installations or token setups. Connecting takes a single transport command. If you choose to build the project locally instead, the environment demands Node.js 24 or newer managed with mise.
What it helps with
- query digital archive records using natural language or field filters
- discover items visually or semantically related to a specific record
- pull complete archival metadata by item identifier
- fetch IIIF manifests to render materials in external viewers
Example prompts for the agent
- Search Northwestern digital collections for nineteenth-century maps
- Find items visually similar to work id 84729
- Retrieve the IIIF manifest for this collection
How to install Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API
1Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http dc-api https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp2Platform CLI
claude mcp add mcp -- npx -y @nulib/dc-api-mcp1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add mcp --url https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp2Platform CLI
codex mcp add mcp -- npx -y @nulib/dc-api-mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp": {
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@nulib/dc-api-mcp"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"mcp": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"mcp": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@nulib/dc-api-mcp"
]
}
}
}1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http mcp https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add mcp npx -y @nulib/dc-api-mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API
How to install Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add --transport http dc-api https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp in your terminal. This attaches the remote HTTP server immediately.
What tools are included in this server?
It includes tools for keyword searches, similarity lookups, detailed metadata retrieval by ID, and access to IIIF manifests for works and collections.
Is a local Node.js runtime required?
No runtime is needed when using the remote URL endpoint. Node.js 24+ is only necessary if you run and compile the repository locally.
