Library Guides: BIOL 1221: Molecules to Humankind: Search for open access images

Library Image Databases

Image Databases

Below is a list of library databases to search for images:

Artstor
A nonprofit resource that provides over 1.6 million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences with an accessible suite of software tools for teaching and research.
AP Images
Contains photographs, audio sound bites, graphics, and text spanning over 160 years of history.
Britannica Image Quest
Access more than two million rights-cleared images from over 50 of the best collections in the world.

Image Websites

Image Websites

Below is a list of websites to search for images that allow you to search by specific rights and restrictions:

Flickr Images (with restrictions)
Many Flickr users have chosen to offer their work under a Creative Commons license, and you can browse or search through content under each type of license.
Google Images
A wide array of images from across the disciplines, but quality can be uneven and may not include attribution of original source. If you plan to post images found via Google on the Web or use them in a publication, ensure you have permissions from the original source.

Public Access Image Collections

Public Domain Image Collections

Below is a list of sources for public domain and relatively unrestricted images:

Yale University
National Gallery of Art
- Open Access Policy
- Collections Search
The Getty
- Open Content Program
- Getty Search Gateway
LACMA
- Terms of Use
- Collections Search
Walters Art Museum
- Collections Search
Rijksstudio
A service of the Rijksmuseum, Rijksstudio offers high resolution images (4500x4500px usually) for public domain works via a direct download on the site.
- Order TIFFs
- Rijksstudio Search and Browse
NYPL Digital Collections
You can limit your search to public domain images only.
- Explanation of Public Domain Collections
- Public Domain Image Search
Library of Congress Digital Collections
This collection contains a mix of restricted and unrestricted works. However, each subcollection has detailed information regarding usage restrictions. Some material does not have restrictions (for example, drawings from the Lamb Studios Drawings)
- Rights and Restrictions Information
- Collection Search
Wellcome Images
Historical images are available for free, high-res download and are licensed under CC-BY 4.0 (creative commons attribution-only license). The images must be credited.
- Policy (see “Services” page from top menu)
- Image Search
Europeana Art History Collection
Europeana allows you to limit to “Free re-use” images on the search results page.
- Terms and Policies
- Search for Art History Images
Flickr Commons
This is a collection of material from various cultural heritage institutions, which contribute images of works believed to be in the public domain.
- Flickr Commons Rights Statement
- Flickr Commons Image Search
Flickr
The main Flickr website also allows you to filter by license. Many images are licensed using creative commons licenses, some of which allow for modifications (like cropping) and commercial use. Appropriate filters would be: Commercial use & mods allowed, No known copyright restrictions, U.S. Government works
- Flickr Image Search
OpenGLAM
OpenGLAM is a directory of open access image collections online.
- OpenGLAM Directory
Public Domain Review
Public Domain Review is a curated online publication that also links to high-resolution images. The images page allows you to filter by rights. Some of the images come from Wikimedia Commons.
- Public Domain Review Rights Labeling Explanation
- Public Domain Review Images