Image & Multimedia Search
| Why not just use any web image, video clip or sound clip? Copyright laws of the U.S. protect all kinds of original material. The following is a statement from the U.S. Copyright Office: | |
| What is copyright? Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works. | What does copyright protect? Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed." |
Use the following sites to find free images and multimedia for educational purposes.
Make sure to cite your source!
Library of Congress American Memory Collections
American Memory provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity. These materials, from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions, chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America, serving the public as a resource for education and lifelong learning
New York Public Library Digital Collections
NYPL Digital Collections provides free and open access to thousands of digital resources; audio, video, webcasts, images, prints, photographs, and texts. Materials downloaded from the NYPL Websites may only be used for personal, educational, or research purposes. They may not be used for commercial purposes.
Pics4Learning "Pics4Learning is a curated image library that is safe and free for education. Teachers and students can use the copyright-friendly photos and illustrations for classroom projects, web sites, videos, portfolios, or any other projects in an educational setting."
Smithsonian Encyclopedia 210,500 images, video and sound files from dozens of Smithsonian museums, archives, and libraries. “The Smithsonian invites visitors to use its online content for personal, educational and other non-commercial purposes.
By using the SI Websites, you accept and agree to abide by the terms of use.
Web Gallery of Art “Images and documents downloaded from this database can only be used for educational and personal purposes. Distribution of the images in any form is prohibited without the authorization of their legal owner."