Finding Images in Print
Books about an artist will often contain images (many in full color) of the individual's work.
In the Library Catalog
select the Quick Search:
- In the search for box enter the artist's name (lastname, firstname).
- Select Author in the search by drop-down list.
- Click on the Search button.
You can tell if a book has illustrations by looking at the Physical Description, which in the record below tells us that the book in question has illustrations, and that some of them are in color.
Finding Images Online
When incorporating images into a paper or presentation, those that already exist in electronic format are often easiest to work with.
While it is possible to simply perform a Google search to find an image of an event, place, or piece of artwork, better images are often available through databases and repositories such as those listed below. Databases also provide information regarding attribution and copyright (see below [link to: name anchor, Permissions section below])
To find material in one of these sites, find the "Search" box or link and enter your terms.
- Use quotes ("") to group words together as a phrase (e.g. "Civil War")
- Use abbreviations with care and be prepared to try alternatives (e.g. WWII might not return results, but "World War II" might)
| Database |
Sponsoring Institution |
Coverage |
| American Journeys |
Wisconsin Historical Society |
"Provide[s] a wide range of geographical, cultural, and chronological information about the exploration of North America." |
| American Memory |
Library of Congress |
Contains "written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience."
|
| Digital Librarian: Images |
Digital Librarian: A Librarian's Choice of the Best of the Web |
Provides links to websites and repositories that contain images on a myriad of topics. |
| Earth Science World Image Bank |
American Geological Institute (AGI) |
Contains over 6,000 images related to the study of earth science. |
| NYPL DigitalGallery |
New York Public Library |
"Provides access to over 600,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more."
|
| Saskia Art Images Collection |
Saskia, Ltd., Cultural Documentation |
Contains "some 32,000 digital images encompass Western-and now Eastern-civilization." |
| Smithsonian American Art Museum |
Smithsonian Institute |
Contains the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of 41,000 art objects, more than 20,000 of which are illustrated online.
|
| SouthEast Asian Images & Texts |
University of Wisconsin |
Contains images and texts related to Southeast Asia, particular Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines.
|
Permissions
Whenever you incorporate an image that you didn't create (you didn't draw it or take the picture, for example),
it is important to attribute that work to the individual who is responsible for it.
Sometimes you need to obtain permission from the copyright owner before you use it.
For some images, such as those found through the
Saskia Art Images Collection,
you don't have to get permission if you're planning to use the image for a paper, presentation,
lecture, or other educational purpose, but would need to get permission if you were planning to publish the
image and profit from its use (considered a commercial use). You need to check each database or website
for its "Terms of Use" or "Use Policy" to make sure you're using the images as they are intended
to be used. Read the
Wheaton College Copyright Guide.
For more information, please contact:
Reference Librarian
(630) 752-5169
Reference@wheaton.edu
