Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API
REMOTE · API.DC.LIBRARY.NORTHWESTERN.EDU · 3 COMPONENTS · SCANNED SEP 20
Agent integration with the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API
How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically against the live server, and we only credit what we can confirm. How we score → Why this is hard to score →
Endpoint Security74
- The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key. View diagnostics → Pass
- No authorisation is required to call this server. Every tool declares its destructiveHint and none is destructive, so open access doesn't expose one. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Partial
- HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path. View diagnostics → Pass
- HSTS check failed: the Strict-Transport-Security header is absent. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Fail
- DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Fail
Transport & Reachability100
- Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake. View diagnostics → Pass
Schema Quality & AI Usability84
- 100% of prompts and resources have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the item's name).Pass
- AI-judged instruction clarity (good).Pass
- Tool/resource definitions use about 746 tokens (~82/item across 9 items; 8 tools + 1 resources), lean.Pass
- Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples. See how to fix → Fail
Stability & Change Management100
- No destabilizing schema changes in the last 30 days.Pass
Tool Coverage100
- 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).Pass
- 100% of tool parameters carry a description.Pass
- Structured output schemas are declared (88% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.Pass
Tool Safety100
- No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.Pass
- We read all 8 captured tool definition(s), and no name or description among them implies an irreversible operation.Pass
- An AI judge read all 9 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.Pass
Capabilities100
- Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28).Pass
- Supports UI / widget rendering.Pass
How do I install the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server?
Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API is a hosted endpoint at https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp, so there is nothing to install locally. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.
remote · api.dc.library.northwestern.edu
claude mcp add --transport http nulib-dc-api 'https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"nulib-dc-api": {
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
} {
"servers": {
"nulib-dc-api": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
} [mcp_servers.nulib-dc-api] url = "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"nulib-dc-api": {
"type": "remote",
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp",
"enabled": true
}
}
} openclaw mcp add nulib-dc-api --url 'https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp' --transport streamable-http
mcp_servers:
nulib-dc-api:
url: "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp" {
"McpServers": {
"nulib-dc-api": {
"Transport": "http",
"Url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
} assistant mcp add nulib-dc-api -t streamable-http -u 'https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"nulib-dc-api": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp"
}
}
} The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.
Every change we have recorded for this component, newest first. Security-relevant changes are always shown. ▲ marks a change for the better, ▼ a change for the worse; unmarked changes are neutral.
- 15 Sept 26 0
- Server version: 2.11.14 → 2.11.15 functional
- 12 Sept 26 0
- Server version: 2.11.12 → 2.11.14 functional
- 29 Aug 26 0
- Tool coverage: 38% → 88% ▲ functional
- Tool “view-work” now declares an output schema ▲ functional
- Tool “view-similar-works” now declares an output schema ▲ functional
- Tool “view-search-results” now declares an output schema ▲ functional
- Tool “view-collection” now declares an output schema ▲ functional
- MCP protocol: Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28). functional
- MCP protocol version: 2025-11-25 → 2026-07-28 functional
- Server version: 2.11.10 → 2.11.12 functional
- 26 Aug 26 +1
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 25 Aug 26 0
- Stability: 0.97 → pass security
- 24 Aug 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 93 to 97. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 28 days of observed history at the previous scan, 29 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 11 Aug 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 31 Jul 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
Diagnostic detail from the automated scan of this channel: what the scanner observed at each step, so you can see exactly where a check passed or failed. It is informational only and never changes the trust score.
Captured 20 Sept 2026 · Probed https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp
TLS valid
Negotiated TLS 1.3 with TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 .
| Subject | Issuer | Valid from | Valid until | Key | Signature | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN=rdc.library.northwestern.edu | CN=Amazon RSA 2048 M04,O=Amazon,C=US | 17 Sept 2026 | 2 Apr 2027 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 887e849b5134c3e5c4b19f99f6408c9 |
| SANs: rdc.library.northwestern.edu, *.stack.rdc.library.northwestern.edu, stack.rdc.library.northwestern.edu, dc.library.northwestern.edu, *.dc.library.northwestern.edu, *.rdc.library.northwestern.edu | ||||||
| CN=Amazon RSA 2048 M04,O=Amazon,C=US (CA) | CN=Amazon Root CA 1,O=Amazon,C=US | 23 Aug 2022 | 23 Aug 2030 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 773124f2a952e3ed18a58bdb85d1bc0ce5f27 |
| CN=Amazon Root CA 1,O=Amazon,C=US (CA) | CN=Starfield Services Root Certificate Authority - G2,O=Starfield Technologies\, Inc.,L=Scottsdale,ST=Arizona,C=US | 25 May 2015 | 31 Dec 2037 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 67f944a2a27cdf3fac2ae2b01f908eeb9c4c6 |
Background: What to check on a remote MCP endpoint →
DNSSEC insecure
Validation of api.dc.library.northwestern.edu. — Not signed
| Zone | DS | Keys | Algorithms | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | trust_anchor | 20326, 38696 | 8, 8 | Verified |
| edu. | present | 35663 | 13 | Verified |
| northwestern.edu. | absent | Unsigned (proven) parent-signed NSEC/NSEC3 proves an unsigned delegation |
Authentication No authorisation required
The endpoint answered without asking for a token. Anyone who knows the URL can reach it.
| Result | No authorisation required |
|---|---|
| HTTP status | 200 |
Background: How OAuth 2.1 works in the 2026 MCP spec →
Transports 2 probes
| Transport | URL | Outcome | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| streamable-http | https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp | Verified | 200 | |
| http (plaintext) | http://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp | HTTPS enforced |
The tools this component advertises to a client, with an estimated token cost for each. Expand a tool to see its parameters and schema. The per-tool counts are indicative and are not scored directly; the schema's total context footprint is one signal in Schema Quality & AI Usability. A tool's description is untrusted text the model reads on every call, which is what makes this list a security surface and not just an inventory: how tool poisoning works →
get-work Get Work ~37
Retrieve the full metadata for a work from the NUL Digital Collections.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| work_id | string | yes | The ID of the work to retrieve |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
list-collections List Collections ~67
List collection records from the NUL Digital Collections.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| max_results | number | – | The maximum number of search results to return per page |
| page | number | – | The page of search results to return |
| public_only | boolean | – | Only include publicly available works in search results |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| aggregations | – | – | – |
| data | array | yes | The search results returned from the Digital Collections API |
| explain | – | – | The explain output from Elasticsearch for the search query. Only included if the MCP is running in debug mode. |
| info | object | yes | – |
| pagination | object | yes | – |
No examples provided.
search Search ~245
Search 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.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| fields | object | – | Structured field search. Best when searching for specific known items or values, or for narrowing a search by specifying particular fields to search within. |
| max_results | number | – | The maximum number of search results to return per page |
| page | number | – | The page of search results to return |
| public_only | boolean | – | Only include publicly available works in search results |
| query | string | – | A natural language query. Best for exploratory / conceptual searches. |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| aggregations | – | – | – |
| data | array | yes | The search results returned from the Digital Collections API |
| explain | – | – | The explain output from Elasticsearch for the search query. Only included if the MCP is running in debug mode. |
| info | object | yes | – |
| pagination | object | yes | – |
No examples provided.
similarity-search Search for Similar Works ~91
Find works that are similar to a given work. Uses semantic similarity based on work embeddings.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| max_results | number | – | The maximum number of search results to return per page |
| page | number | – | The page of search results to return |
| public_only | boolean | – | Only include publicly available works in search results |
| work_id | string | yes | ID of a work to find similar items for. |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| aggregations | – | – | – |
| data | array | yes | The search results returned from the Digital Collections API |
| explain | – | – | The explain output from Elasticsearch for the search query. Only included if the MCP is running in debug mode. |
| info | object | yes | – |
| pagination | object | yes | – |
No examples provided.
view-collection View Collection ~38
View a collection from the NUL Digital Collections in an interactive viewer.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| collection_id | string | yes | The ID of the collection to view |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| iiifContentUrl | string | yes | A URL to a IIIF manifest or collection |
No examples provided.
view-search-results View Search Results ~121
View results from the search-works tool in an interactive viewer.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| fields | object | – | Structured field search. Best when searching for specific known items or values, or for narrowing a search by specifying particular fields to search within. |
| max_results | number | – | The maximum number of search results to return per page |
| page | number | – | The page of search results to return |
| public_only | boolean | – | Only include publicly available works in search results |
| query | string | – | A natural language query. Best for exploratory / conceptual searches. |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| iiifContentUrl | string | yes | A URL to a IIIF manifest or collection |
No examples provided.
view-similar-works View Similar Works ~89
View results from the similarity-search tool in an interactive viewer.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| max_results | number | – | The maximum number of search results to return per page |
| page | number | – | The page of search results to return |
| public_only | boolean | – | Only include publicly available works in search results |
| work_id | string | yes | ID of a work to find similar items for. |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| iiifContentUrl | string | yes | A URL to a IIIF manifest or collection |
No examples provided.
view-work View Work ~37
View a work from the NUL Digital Collections in an interactive viewer.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| work_id | string | yes | The ID of the work to view |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| iiifContentUrl | string | yes | A URL to a IIIF manifest or collection |
No examples provided.
What is the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server?
Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as io.github.nulib/dc-api. Agent integration with the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API. This page covers its hosted endpoint (https://api.dc.library.northwestern.edu/api/v2/mcp).
Is the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server safe to use?
Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API scores 87 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.
What tools does the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server expose?
Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API exposes 8 tools: search, get-work, list-collections, similarity-search, view-work, and 3 more. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 725 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.
Does the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server require authentication?
No. We connected to Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API without credentials and it answered, so anything it exposes is reachable by anyone who knows the address.
Is the Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API MCP server still maintained?
Northwestern University Libraries Digital Collections API is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 20 September 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.