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PUBLIC DOMAIN OR FREE IMAGE (including map), SOURCES

The sites listed below, publish material that may be used without payment. It is important
to read the Terms and Conditions on each website and follow the guidelines. Some sites
with images that are free for teachers and students have not been included as they restrict
use to the classroom.

The Smartcopying website has:

Open Education/Free for Education Resources

http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/scw/go/pid/936
Caution is needed if you are using a site recommended as free for schools because this usually
only refers to teachers and students copying and communicating in classrooms – may not apply to
all publishing of educational material on the Internet where audiences are larger than a single
classroom.

How to find Creative Commons materials using Google

http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/scw/webdav/site/scwsite/shared/Google_.pdf
Site provides a detailed explanation. Put simply, if you go to Google Image search, select
‘Advanced search’ and after making other choices, go to the second last field ‘Usage rights’ and
select ‘Labelled for reuse’, you will quickly find free reusable images. Check whether derivatives
are allowed. If the Creative commons licence says ‘No derivatives’ it means you must use it
unaltered. Best CC licence for EQ schools are BY, SA, NC.

Aerogel.org
http://www.aerogel.org
Open source nanotech information, including an image gallery.

ARS (Agricultural Research Service) Image Gallery

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/
US government web site with free for use images

Art History Images for College Teaching (AICT)

http://arthist.cla.umn.edu/aict/index.html
Site owned by A. T. Kohl, but licensed for non-commercial educational use. Images include
ancient, medieval, renaissance & baroque, 18th-20th century (including paintings), non-western.

Australian National Botanical Gardens

http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/index.html
The site offers a comprehensive collection of photographs of Australian plants, flowering and non-
flowering, searchable in a number of ways. Allows copying for ‘non-commercial educational uses’.

Australian War Memorial

www.awm.gov.au
Look for material that is labelled as being in the public domain. Other material will not be available
without permission.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/australian-war-memorial/
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Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The world factbook

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Free maps, world-wide, are available. No permission is required – just acknowledge the source.

Clip art for students and websites

http://www.graphicmaps.com/clipart.htm
Includes graphic maps – some copyright restrictions – only outline maps are free.

Creative Commons (CC) search

http://search.creativecommons.org/
Check results – not all are available to us.
Understand CC by reading more:
http://www.smartcopying.edu.au/scw/webdav/site/scwsite/shared/What_is_Creative_Com
mons__website_.pdf

DefenseImagery.mil
http://www.defenseimagery.mil/index.html
Public domain images from the US military are available for educational use. Always check that the
description indicates they are released into the public domain (see the site’s Terms of Use for
further information). A huge range of photographs on surprisingly diverse topics are available.

EduPic Graphical Resource

http://www.edupic.net/index.html
Not a great many images in each category, but they have been taken for educational purposes and
are useful. Free for classroom use.

Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/
Not all images on Flickr are available for free copying but many are. Find Creative Commons
images by entering your search term in the advanced search and selecting ‘Only search within
Creative Commons-licensed content’.

Flickr Creative Commons

http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
A special section listing all the available CC licences and providing entry to the images with a
particular licence, e.g.

Flickr Creative Commons Attribution licence

http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/by-2.0/
Provides access to the gallery of images with the CC Attribution licence (CC BY) and displays the
last 100 in this category to have been contributed.

Flickr - The Commons

http://www.flickr.com/commons/
This is a section where various institutions have contributed images they hold that have a ‘no
known restrictions’ licence, so you can search in that section without having to examine the licence
as carefully, because they should all be available for educational use.

Forestry images
http://www.forestryimages.org/
Images included in the Bugwood Network Image Archives (ForestryImages.org, IPMImages.org,
Invasive.org, and InsectImages.org) are made available under a Creative Commons license for
personal and educational, but not commercial use.

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GeoMap
http://www.mygeo.info/eng/maps.html
In addition to public domain or free for education maps, the site offers geography themed
wallpaper, a dictionary of geographical terms and cartoons suited to Social Science themes.

Historical maps
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/index.html
A wide range of maps from around the world, from Ancient Greece to 1880s Australia. Read the
‘Material usage statement’ for advice on correct attribution of anything you use. The FAQs provide
useful information about troubleshooting and refers to other sources.

Internet history source books

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/index.html
Free for educational purposes. Check that links are not off-site as those may not be free to use.
Internet Medieval sourcebook – maps and images
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbookmap.html

Learning Place
http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/
Learning Place resources have been assessed and found suitable for Department of Education
purposes.

morgueFile
Where photo reference lives. Public image archive for creatives by creatives
http://www.morguefile.com/
The images on this site are licensed differently from most others. You don’t have to attribute and
the terms are very broad:
morgueFile Free License
You are free:
 Remix — to adapt the work.
 Commercial — to use this work for commercial purposes.
 Without Attribution — to use without attributing the original author.
Under the following conditions:
 Stand alone basis — You can not sell, license, sublicense, rent, transfer or distribute
this image exactly as it is without alteration.
 Ownership — You may not claim ownership of this image in its original state.
 Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the contributor.
 Nothing in this license impairs or restricts the author's moral rights.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of

Commerce), USA
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/
Instructions for downloading images: under the About tab.
Contents: See categories below or go to the Collections tab.
Restrictions: Credit must be given to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration/Department of Commerce, unless otherwise instructed to give credit to the
photographer or other source. Read terms under the About tab.
Facilities: Search engine, Boolean searching capability.
Search: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/search.html

Category URL
NOAA Photo Library home http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/index.html

Animals http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/animals/index.html

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Coast & geodetic survey
operations – historical – http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/cgs/index.html
surveying, nautical charting,
oceanography, military

Coastline – America http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/coastline/index.html

including Alaska and Hawaii

Coral kingdom – reefs, http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/reef/index.html

marine creatures, etc.

Expeditions – Arctic, http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/corps/index.html

Antarctic, Northern seas,
islands in the sun:
Scientists, sailors, pilots,
divers
Estuaries http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/nerr/index.html

Fisheries – fishing http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/fish/index.html

techniques

Fisheries – historical http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/nmfs/index.html

images - plates

Flying http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/flight/index.html

Geodesy – satellite images, http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/geodesy/index.html

stations and people -

Sanctuaries http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/sanctuary/index.html

Habitat restoration and http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/habrest/index.html

conservation. Find projects
including wetlands
protection
Nature – broad range of
general nature images http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/brs/swind1.htm
including sharks, birds,
islands, people
Rare & unusual books – http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/library/index.html
contains images,
instruments, diagrams,
book covers & title pages.
Sailing – ships & people – http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/ships/index.html
plus historical images
Space http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/space/index.html

Storms http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/nssl/index.html

Sunrises & sunsets & moon http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/sun/index.html

beams – Alaska, Arctic,
Antarctic, Pacific -
Weather archive http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/index.html

Undersea explorers – http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/nurp/index.html

seascapes, marine
creatures, historical images

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Wildlife sanctuaries http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/sanctuary/index.html

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Image Gallery

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html
Contents: Aeronautics, Aircraft, Devices, Education, Facilities, People, Projects, Solar system,
Flights, Wind tunnels
Restrictions: NASA still images, audio files and video generally are not copyrighted. You may use
NASA imagery, video and audio material for educational or informational purposes, including photo
collections, textbooks, public exhibits and Internet Web pages. Note the exceptions under usage
guidelines: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html
Facilities: Search engine, Boolean searching capability.
Search: http://nix.nasa.gov/
Photojournal: NASA's image access home page
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/
Another way to access NASA’s visual assets.

National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian)

http://www.npg.si.edu/
Many free images but very small size ~ 20–30 kb

NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Photographic Information Edchange

(PIX)
http://www.nrel.gov/data/pix/
Free to use – USA government website - a collection of photographs related to renewable energy
and energy efficiency technologies

NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Centre)

http://photogallery.nrcs.usda.gov/
Contains photos from across the USA on natural resource and conservation related topics. Photos
are free of charge. The relevant conditions and methods of attribution are clearly displayed.
Search: http://photogallery.nrcs.usda.gov/Search.asp

Open Clip Art Library

http://www.openclipart.org/
Public domain clip art.

Picture Australia
http://www.pictureaustralia.gov.au/
Picture Australia is an internet based discovery service that helps you find what digitised images
cultural agencies hold in their collections. Includes historical images and ‘picture trails’ where like
images are collected, together with information about them. It is necessary to check the terms for
each one – they are not all free to use.

Picture Queensland
http://www.pictureqld.slq.qld.gov.au/
Digitised photographs from the collections of the John Oxley Library and other Queensland cultural
institutions include Queensland historical images.

Portrait Gallery - University of Texas Libraries

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/exhibits/portraits/index.html
Portraits of historical figures are available free. Images used should be labelled: Courtesy of the
University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. See the site’s Material usage
statement for further information.

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Powerhouse Museum
‘Photo of the Day’ Images: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/imageservices/
Many of the photos in this section carry Creative Commons licences, but not all, so each one must
be checked.
Flickr Commons Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/

Public domain maps of the ancient world

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/maps/ig/Ancient-World--Maps/

Public Health Image Library (PHIL)

http://phil.cdc.gov/Phil/default.asp
This United States government website offers images which are free for educational use. The
focus of the collection is public health. Images range from microbiological specimens to people
demonstrating hygienic practices.

SILS Art History browser

http://www2.si.umich.edu//History_of_Art/
School of Information and Library Studies University of Michigan
This is a database of art, architectural, and museum object images.

US Fish and Wildlife Service: National digital library

http://images.fws.gov/
A United States government website, offering images which are free for educational use. Contains
pictures, videos and graphics on a range of topics, including plants, birds, habitats, environmental
science and history.

Wellcome images
http://images.wellcome.ac.uk/
The images on this site are freely available for download for personal, academic teaching or study
use. Themes range from medical and social history to contemporary healthcare and biomedical
science.

Wikimedia Commons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
GNU and Creative Commons licensed resources – ideal for school use.

Wikipedia: public domain image resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_image_resources

McL: 24/11/2010

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