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Getting started with DMMapp

Welcome to DMMapp, your gateway to discovering digitized medieval manuscript collections worldwide. This guide shows you how to find the libraries you need.

What you'll do

  • Browse libraries from around the world
  • Search for specific collections by name or location
  • Filter for high-quality image resources and open licenses

Browse the directory

When you open the dashboard, you'll see a list of libraries with digitized manuscript collections.

View the list

Scroll through the directory to explore libraries. Each entry shows:

  • Library name
  • Location (city and country)
  • Link to the digitized collection
  • Available features (like IIIF support)

Read library details

Select the Visit link next to a library to open their collection website in a new tab. You'll find manuscripts, catalogs, and research tools.

Explore nearby collections

Libraries in the same city often share similar manuscript types. If one library has what you need, check others in that area.

Search and filter

Find specific libraries quickly using the search and filter tools.

Search by name or location

Type a library name, city, or country name in the search box. The list updates instantly to show matching libraries.

Examples:

  • Type "Bodleian" to find the Bodleian Library
  • Type "Paris" to see French collections in Paris
  • Type "Italy" to see all Italian libraries

The search matches library names, project names, cities, and countries, so you'll see all relevant results no matter which one you type.

Filter by nation

Use the nation filter to view libraries from a specific country:

  1. Click the Nation dropdown
  2. Select a country from the list
  3. The directory shows only libraries from that nation

Select All Nations to view the complete directory again.

Filter by project

Some libraries are part of one or more larger aggregating projects, such as Europeana. Use the project filter to view only libraries that belong to a specific project:

  1. Click the Project dropdown
  2. Select a project from the list
  3. The directory shows only libraries that belong to that project

A library that belongs to several projects appears under each of their filters.

Select All Projects to view the complete directory again.

Combine search and filter

Use these tools together. Filter by nation, then search for a city. This helps when multiple countries have cities with the same name.

Find IIIF resources

Some libraries offer IIIF (International Image Interoperability Framework) support. This means you can view high-quality images that work across different tools and platforms.

What IIIF gives you

Libraries with IIIF support let you:

  • Zoom into manuscript details with high resolution
  • Compare images from different libraries side-by-side
  • Use images in research tools and annotation software
  • Download images in various formats

Use the IIIF toggle

Turn on the IIIF toggle to see libraries that support this standard:

  1. Find the IIIF toggle at the top of the directory
  2. Click to turn it on
  3. The list shows only IIIF-enabled libraries

Turn it off to see all libraries again.

About IIIF

IIIF is a global standard that makes digitized images more useful for research. Not all libraries support it yet, but the number grows each year.

Find openly licensed collections

Some libraries offer their collections under a Creative Commons or other open license, so you can reuse the images freely in your own work.

Use the Open toggle

Turn on the Open toggle to see libraries with an open license:

  1. Find the Open toggle at the top of the directory, next to the IIIF toggle
  2. Click to turn it on
  3. The list shows only libraries with an open license

Turn it off to see all libraries again.

Tips for your research

  • Start broad, then narrow: Browse all libraries first, then use filters to focus on specific regions
  • Check multiple libraries: Different libraries may have different manuscripts from the same region or period
  • Bookmark collections: Save library websites you use frequently for quick access
  • Verify availability: Some collections may have limited access or require registration

Next steps

Ready to contribute? Here's how to help expand the directory:

Happy researching! 📚