Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API

Agent integration with the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API

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What it can do

    What data it sees

    Do you need an account

    No: the server works without sign-in

    Agent integration with the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API

    How to connect

    How to connect Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API to Claude

    The server address to paste into Claude settings:

    https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp

    1. Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
    2. Go to Settings → Connectors.
    3. Click Add custom connector.
    4. Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
    5. In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.

    Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.

    Authorization

    After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.

    How to connect Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API to ChatGPT

    The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:

    https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp

    1. Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
    2. Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
    3. Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
    4. Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
    5. Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
    6. In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.

    OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.

    Authorization

    On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.

    How to connect Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API to Cursor

    The server address to paste into Cursor settings:

    https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp

    Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.

    Manually:

    1. In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
    2. Paste the JSON copied below into ~/.cursor/mcp.json (per project: .cursor/mcp.json in the repo root).
    3. Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.

    Authorization

    If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.

    Server tool list (8)

    Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.

    searchSearch for works in the Digital Collections using field-based and/or natural language queries. If both a natural language query and specific field values are provided, the natural language query will take priority, using the specified field values as additional constraints. The result will also include a list of aggregations that show how many results match different values for certain fields. For example, you could see how many results match each collection, work type, or visibility and use that information to refine your search. Perform an empty search to retrieve all works and their aggregations. NOTE: Structured field values enclosed in double quotes will be treated as exact, case-sensitive matches, while unquoted values will be treated as full-text searches.
    get-workRetrieve the full metadata for a work from the NUL Digital Collections.
    list-collectionsList collection records from the NUL Digital Collections.
    similarity-searchFind works that are similar to a given work. Uses semantic similarity based on work embeddings.
    view-workView a work from the NUL Digital Collections in an interactive viewer.
    view-collectionView a collection from the NUL Digital Collections in an interactive viewer.
    view-search-resultsView results from the search-works tool in an interactive viewer.
    view-similar-worksView results from the similarity-search tool in an interactive viewer.