Exhibit.so and IIIF

ILiADS

Alice McGrath

2025-06-24

Exhibit.so

1. What is it?
2. Understanding IIIF
3. Finding IIIF resources
4. How to use Exhibit.so

Introduction

Exhibit.so

Examples

• Lily Petteway (BMC 25), Anchoresses in Medieval Manuscripts
• Chloe Sun (BMC 27)Scrapbooking Bryn Mawr: A 1910s Snapshot

Why it’s great

• Easy to get started
• Browser-based; no sign-in required
• Includes metadata alongside visually-striking content

Challenges

• Images have to be published on the web
• …using IIIF specifications

Understanding IIIF

• International Image Interoperability Framework
• APIs for publishing reusable images
• Zoomable viewers, such as Mirador
• Change color! Rotate images!
• Images, books, video, and more!

How it works

• Image API:
  • Image derivatives are “tiled” so deep zoom is possible
  • URLs are structured in a recognizable way
• Presentation API:
  • Metadata is packaged alongside images
  • Include multiple images for one object (book)
• Manifest: see example
  • A json file (JavaScript Object Notation) that includes unique IDs and links to images

Finding IIIF Resources

• Searching for manifest links!
• To get started: Guides to finding IIIF resources
• Collection-specific guidelines (not always up-to-date)
• Example: Library of Congress, Topographical Map of Ocean Co., New Jersey

Building your Exhibit.so

• Navigate to www.exhibit.so
• Save your Exhibit URL somewhere safe!

Resources

• IIIF Online Training [https://training.iiif.io/iiif-online-workshop/]
• Canopy - tool for publishing IIIF collection
• Exhibit.so self-hosting documentation