Non-profit global library cooperative OCLC now supports IIIF Image and Presentation APIs in its CONTENTdm digital collection management software, ensuring that its member libraries and institutions can share and present millions of digital images across a variety of applications and platforms.
CONTENTdm, currently used by more than 2,500 institutions worldwide, was recently redesigned to create a new end-user experience for any device. The redesign supports the IIIF Image API, which provides a common mechanism for manipulating digital images for display and download. The IIIF Presentation API, which makes it possible to present image metadata and navigate through complex digital objects, is now the second API added to CONTENTdm.
The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF), driven by a thriving community of libraries, museums, software firms, scholars and technologists working with digital images and digital image repositories, provides a community-driven set of shared API specifications for interoperable functionality in digital image repositories.
IIIF creates new ways to collaborate with other institutions and gain from collective efforts, providing users with a rich set of common functionalities to view, compare, manipulate and interact with digital items on the Web, an experience made portable–shareable, citable, and embeddable. Because of the incorporation of IIIF, CONTENTdm users now have access to open-source tools that use IIIF specifications. Libraries with CONTENTdm can now support their communities with the latest research support tools to help them get the most out of their unique collections. Those institutions that may lack some software development capabilities can still use this innovative software, developed by others.
OCLC support of IIIF APIs was discussed at the CONTENTdm User Group Meeting 2017 on September 28, in Kingston, New York, USA. The meeting was held in conjunction with The Northeast Regional Digital Collections Conference. This event provided opportunities for digital collections creators and curators in the region and beyond to network, share best practices, participate in workshops, and learn from leaders in digital cultural heritage.
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