Using images for creating resources

  Jil Fairclough, Medical School Librarian and Technology Enhanced Learning Lead


The BSMS Library Service often gets asked to advise on what images can be used when creating online learning resources. Here is a quick guide on finding and using images.

Questions to ask yourself are:

  • Is it free?
  • Do I need to get permission to use?
  • Do I need to credit the image in a particular way?
  • Are there any restrictions on how I can use the image?
Creative Commons is a widely-recognised and easy-to-use means of applying copyright licence to works, including images

Copyright and Creative Commons

Copyright automatically subsists in content online or on paper. Images are copyright-protected works and include photos, illustrations, and other graphical representations such as graphs and charts. If you are sharing someone’s image, ensure that you are using it in-line with its license or with copyright regulations.

Anything with a ‘Creative Commons’ (CC) licence is normally OK for re-use. The CC licence provides a simple, standardized way to share and use creative work — on conditions of the owner’s choice. CC licences provide usage rights, varying from the default of “all rights reserved” to “some rights reserved.” For more information on CC licences see creativecommons.org/licenses/

Are you sure you have copyright to copy-and-paste that image from Google?

Beware Google Images

Google is merely a search engine which finds images from different websites all over the Internet; it does not mean these images are free to use as you will. While easy to do, it is not legal to re-use such images without obtaining the permission of the copyright holders of the particular material in question.

However, Google Images Advanced search allows you to filter out copyrighted material: Go to Google Images and then Settings (bottom right) > Advanced Search > Usage rights > Choose: ‘Free to use, share or modify, even commercially’ >you then search for images which are OK to re-use and modify.

Reverse Image Searches provide alternative ways to find images similar to an existing one and it is really easy to use: Either drag and drop an image into the search box, upload an image, or copy the URL of the image into the search box.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chsia/7742848072

Finding Images

BSMS Libraries provide access to several online resources where images are available, see the BSMS Library website at: www.bsms.ac.uk/about/library/online-resources

There are also websites which provide freely available images, including:

A popular image bank that has a filter to search for copyright-cleared images
flickr.com
A repository for free public domain images. Download high quality HD photos or upload your own.
publicdomainpictures.net
Contains historical images from the Wellcome Library collections. The Biomedical Collection holds over 40 000 high-quality images from the clinical and biomedical sciences. Contains some images available free under CC licenses and some available to purchase.
wellcomeimages.org
The NHS Photo Library is a comprehensive resource for the NHS and related social care organisations, providing access to cost-effective photography for use in their communication materials. Access to the library and use of the images is for NHS organisations and Public Health England, Department of Health and related Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) who hold an NHS or Department of Health email account.
photolibrary.nhs.uk

For further information on using images, see the University of Brighton Images Subject Guide or the University of Sussex Copyright Information page

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