Pictures Collections

A guide to finding and using the Pictures collection at the State Library of New South Wales.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.

All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.

Key to library resources

Access anywhere with a library card In the Library (or anywhere with a Library card for NSW residents)
Available to access in the library Only in the Library
Publicly available online Publicly available

Copying, publishing or purchasing digital copies

How to get copies of pictures

Copyright

Before a copy can be made of pictures in the collection, Library staff will need to check copyright and other restrictions. Some pictures collections' catalogue records will provide copyright statements with brief reference to this information.

Please ask staff at the Special Collections desk or contact us by phone or email to ensure full copyright information is obtained.

More information about copyright is available on the State Library website.

Copies of pictures for reference and research purposes can be made by:

  • using your own digital camera
  • using Library microfilm reader printers 
  • ordering high quality digital scans
  • purchasing microfilm  
  • ordering paper or electronic copies

Publishing and citing our pictures

You will need permission to publish many of our pictures.

You must acknowledge the State Library and provide the correct locations.  

To ensure that items can be found by other researchers, quote the source of the item that is reproduced including the artist, title, call number and digital order number if digitised. 

Featured Collection Item

Tips

Always keep a note of the location number and any other details such as a page or folio number.  You may need to refer back to them or use them in your bibliography.