I would be interested to hear any views from colleagues about the use and reuse of images that libraries and archives make available to customers through an online database.
An image that we added to our online database (www.picturesheffield.com), was copied, had its web address overlay (watermark) removed and was then uploaded to Wikimedia.
We recently received a comment from a customer who took exception to this.
We have some sympathy with this view - the image itself may be out of copyright, though the Council retains rights in its digital file. On this basis we have requested the image be removed from Wikimedia - full details are available here https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Youdan_%26_Surrey_Theatre_company.png?uselang=en-gb
I wonder if colleagues have experienced something similar or would wish to express their view of images used in this way (on or off list).
Peter Evans
Archives and Heritage Manager
Sheffield City Archives
52 Shoreham Street
Sheffield
S1 4SP
0114 203 9397 / 273 5067
0777 296 4459