State Library of Queensland > Our heritage > Picture Queensland > Image Reproduction

Copying, copyright and reproduction of images

1. Copying
2. Copyright
3. Ordering an image
4. Reproduction of images
5. Citing images
6. Linking to Picture Queensland website

1. Copying

From the Internet for personal use

You can print, copy or download a Picture Queensland image for private research or study purposes without asking for permission. This includes using an image in a school assignment. Please provide a proper citation acknowledging the State Library of Queensland on any image that you copy. We appreciate hearing about how you are using our images. Our "Your say" form makes it easy to contact us.

Copies of high quality photographic prints or digital images

The State Library of Queensland offers a quality photographic service that can be used by clients wanting a higher quality image than can be printed or downloaded from the Picture Queensland database. Supply of these copies is made upon the completion of a Photographic Request and Declaration Form and the payment of any fees.

Note: No digital manipulation or modification of the image is permitted.

2. Copyright

Copyright law

Copyright laws are in place to protect the creators of artistic and literary works (including photographs). Australian copyright law includes:

Ownership of copyright

Many of the images in the Picture Queensland database are out of copyright. They were taken before 1955 and the copyright has lapsed. Where this has occurred the images are in the public domain and copyright clearance is unnecessary.

If an image is still in copyright then a notation indicating this will be included in the rights field. In all cases where an image is still in copyright, permission to copy must be obtained from the copyright owner.

The responsibility to identify the copyright owner and to obtain permission to use the image, rests with the person who wishes to use the image. The State Library's Heritage Collections staff may be able to assist in this matter provided that the State Library holds the relevant documentation.

For current advice contact the Australian Copyright Council [new window http://www.copyright.org.au/].

3. Ordering

If you wish to order a copy of any of these images, you simply click the "order this image" link located near each of the images. Images can be supplied as a photograph or a digital file. More information is available on image prices and sizes.

4. Reproduction of images

The State Library of Queensland does not charge for the use of images in its collection.

Copyright clearances, where necessary, are the responsibility of the client who shall indemnify the Library Board of Queensland against any action whatsoever taken by the copyright owner(s) against the State Library of Queensland arising in any way whatsoever from the publication of the Photographic Materials by or on behalf of the Applicant.

The State Library requests that images are acknowledged, and the negative number is displayed with the illustration (e.g. State Library of Queensland, neg no. 12345).

The State Library of Queensland requests that a complimentary copy of the item in which the image is published is received for the collection where possible.

5. Citing images

When using images from Picture Queensland we ask that you acknowledge the State Library of Queensland by including the words 'State Library of Queensland Neg: 12345' or 'Neg: 12345'.

Negative numbers appear in the description of each photograph.

There are a variety of ways to cite digital images. We suggest the following, based on the MLA style:
Photographer last name, first name, middle initial. "Title of photograph." Date. Title of Collection. [digital ID] (date of visit).

Example:

Boag, William. "Portrait of a selector and his family at Beenleigh." ca. 1872. [picqld-2003-03-06-15-55] (12 May 2003).

6. Linking to Picture Queensland

State Library of Queensland encourages organisations and individuals to link to the Picture Queensland web site via its home page. By going to the Instructions for linking to Picture Queensland, you can learn how to direct people to the Picture Queensland home page, individual Picture Queensland records and saved Picture Queensland searches.

Last updated: 21st August 2007

Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other