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Not sure if I agree that having some control over what images are downloaded by researchers and caring about how they are used means that an archive is being "obstructive" and "discourages access and treats them without respect or dignity".

On 6 June 2018 at 15:56, Sue Adams <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Look at it from the user's perspective.  A user, who would rather download digital content at home, has already had the inconvenience and expense of having to go to the archive in person.  Users expect to take copies for further study away with an overwhelming preference for high quality digital copies.  Download onto a memory stick is an efficient method of getting a copy.  Not allowing the user to download digital copies is obstructive, discourages access and treats them without respect or dignity.

Archives generally require users to sign in and identify themselves at the door, so why put more hurdles in the way of access?  Most archives require self service photographers to fill in a copyright declaration, so use the existing system.

If you really must have an individual record of which users have accessed digital content log them into the system.  Log-in puts you well on the way to serving content online.

It is easy to incorporate copyright information, the archive and archive reference in digital image metadata and to use that metadata to visibly watermark the images.  Having that data attached to the digital image helps users identify what it is later, and makes images ready for being served online either directly or via a third party.  Please insist metadata are included when you contract with third parties.

Sue Adams


On 06/06/2018 13:17, Sam Johnston wrote:

Dear All,

 

I’d appreciate advice from anyone who currently provides access to quantities of digital content in their searchroom, as opposed to online.  Like many services I suspect, we have large amounts of digital material that we do not yet have the means to make available over the internet.  This means that we provide access via PC or laptop locally.  Whilst encouraging access, we don’t want users to download images onto their memory sticks or other device and take them away without notifying us and ideally paying.  This is however difficult to enforce without close supervision.  Does anyone therefore operate a policy where users sign an agreement to commit themselves to abiding by the terms of access, i.e. no downloading, or is it done on the basis of a verbal agreement and trust?

 

I do not wish to inhibit access, but equally I don’t wish to see potentially thousands of images appearing online over which we have no control.

 

I’d appreciate any advice or examples of agreements currently in use.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Regards

 

Sam

 

Sam Johnston | County Archivist | Dorset History Centre | Bridport Road | Dorchester |DT1 1RP| 01305 228929 (direct)| [log in to unmask] |https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/libraries-history-culture/dorset-history-centre

 

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