What is IIIF? (for staff)

DRAFT: further edits and instructions forthcoming.

IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) is a set of APIs and related tools created by an international community of leading cultural institutions. The IIIF community has created documentation to help you learn how to use the IIIF APIs, how to use the IIIF Mirador viewer, and how to find other IIIF digitized collections from cultural heritage institutions across the globe.

Public documentation about Collections U of T and IIIF is available at https://collections-beta.library.utoronto.ca/explore/getting_started.

Staff documentation about IIIF and Collections U of T is forthcoming.

Using external IIIF services - Internet Archive

UTL makes use of the Internet Archive (IA) to publish digital collections. The IA is also IIIF-enabled. Collection owners may consider the following when deciding if they should use Collections U of T versus the Internet Archive:

  • If your UTL department is acquiring archives and special collections for digitization and unrestricted public access please email us to discuss if your context fits the Collections U of T policies.
  • If your UTL department’s context fits within the Collections U of T policies and you anticipate reuse of digital objects via IIIF tools then Collections U of T IIIF is the recommended service
  • Remember that Collections U of T IIIF manifests and image URLs are published with the goal of providing access and capacity for reuse in perpetuity
  • Metadata fields in Collections U of T IIIF manifest are customizable according to the repository owner’s specifications (within the constraints of the Collections U of T metadata profile and index)
  • Collections U of T digital objects are published alongside all of UTL’s other digital collections within the UTL top-level IIIF collection manifest

Embedding IIIF

IIIF embeds via Collections U of T can use the following parameters:

  • manifestId: Allow multiple entries and render them up to four in sequence - e.g. manifestId=MANIFEST_ID1&manifestId=MANIFEST_ID2
  • canvasId: Allow multiple entries and it pairs with a matching manifestId up to four in sequence. e.g. manifestId=MANIFEST_ID1&canvasId=CANVAS_ID1
  • workspaceControlPanel=true - Allows the Mirador 3.x Workspace functionality within the embed
  • thumbnailNavigationDisplay=true - Enables thumbnail display in embed (default is true)

These embed features are reflected on the /explore/ pages’ IIIF embeds as well.

If your department would like more information or training about IIIF for your staff please email us to plan training sessions or support with IIIF / Collections U of T use for faculty and students after Summer 2025.