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Find & Using Images: Citation & Copyright

Discover sites to find and use high-quality image databases and resources. Interdisciplinary image content, search strategies, evaluating images, & image citation guide.

Citing Images

Images must be cited like all other resources. If you use an image you did not create, you must provide a citation. Images should be cited in all cases, even if the image is very small, or in the public domain. The citation should be accessible in the context of the image's use (within a Powerpoint presentation, on a web page, in a paper, etc.).

Digital images are an electronic resource that need to be used responsibly. Most databases and web sites provide information about how their images can be used. It is important to read this information carefully, and comply with all usage guidelines.  Usage guidelines can vary considerably, so be alert to differences and details.

Image citations should include the following information at a minimum:

  • Title
  • Creator name
  • Repository information (museum, library, or other owning institution)
  • Image source (database, website, book, postcard, vendor, etc.)
  • Date accessed

It is also useful to include date, culture, and rights information, if known.

Citations can be formatted according to the citation style you are using.