Library and Academic Success: Image Collections: What you have access to

Educational use of Images

Educational Use of Images

These guidelines outline the use of images for educational purposes. Information is intended for Georgian College students, staff and faculty only.

General guidelines:

Check and abide by licenses
Avoid pay-for-access images
Limit access to content via Blackboard
Cite/Reference/Attribute

Consult the Copyright guide or email the Copyright Team - copyright@georgiancollege.ca for help.

Image Use: Resources

Images - Accessibility Toolkit 2nd Edition This link will give you an excellent understanding of the basics of creating alt-tags for images.
Complex Images... A Guide to Making Visual Content Accessible [PDF] This PDF provides excellent information on how you might ensure that complex images (such as charts, diagrams, etc) are accessible for all learners.
Copyright at Georgian Visit this guide for more information about how you can use content and images in an educational context.
Using Images in OER A brief guide to citation, copyright and accessibility concerns around using images in OER.

Images included with software packages and programs

Media and document creation software often provide users with images for use in their projects. Guidelines for the use of these images vary by the specific software and resources available. Content found personal subscriptions to software, apps and services may not be used educational scenarios. Check with the library copyright team if the terms of use for specific resources are not clear, or you have any questions.

Microsoft Office (Word & PowerPoint) & Google Tools (Docs & Slides)

Microsoft Word & PowerPoint

Insert Pictures > Online pictures:

Office products will default to Creative Commons only when you search
Source information for the images is located in the bottom right corner of each image (look for three dots)
- hover over the image to display the more info (three dots) link, and click on it
- the clickable URL may not give you enough information to cite fully in APA or Creative Commons recommended attribution
To cite accurately in APA format or give Creative Commons attribution
- look up the missing information OR
- use and cite images found via an openly licensed image search tool (bonus: they often provide an attribution statement)

Insert Pictures > Stock images:

Georgian College computers are registered as Microsoft 365 subscribers, which include stock images for your use
Personal computers may not have access to the same resources, please check your software version/subscription/license info
Acknowledge the use of the included stock photography on your references slide or elsewhere in your document
If you are required to cite in APA format or give Creative Commons attribution:
- check with your professor OR
- use and cite images found via an openly licensed image search tool (bonus: they often provide an attribution statement)

Google Docs & Slides:

Insert > Image > Search the web

Source information for the images is located in the bottom right corner of each image
- hover over or click the image, then click on the magnifying glass icon for more info
- some license information will appear below the image but it may not give you enough information to cite fully in APA or Creative Commons recommended attribution
To cite accurately in APA format or give Creative Commons attribution
- look up the missing information OR
- use and cite images found via an openly licensed image search tool (bonus: they often provide an attribution statement)

Contact the Copyright Team - copyright@georgiancollege.ca with any questions or concerns about using images provided with software in your academic work

Image & Video Creation tools

Video and image creation tools often contain resources such as images and icons that are provided for use in projects created with the software.

Review the terms of use or licensing information provided with the images or product overall
Add attribution/credits to the software package used to clarify the source of your materials

Other tools

Contact the Copyright Team - copyright@georgiancollege.ca for help with other software packages

Using your own photographs and images in your academic work

You are welcome to use images you create or photographs you take in your academic work. Since you created the image, you own it and may decide how others can use it (or not). Here are some things for you to consider when doing this:

Give Yourself Credit!

Mark your work as your own using an attribution, reference or copyright statement
Consider applying a Creative Commons or Public Domain license if you want others to be able to reuse your work
Model best practices for your audience by clearly outlining any outside sources you used to create your work

Consider the subject and contents of your image

If your image contains identifiable trademarks, logos, or other copyrighted images, you will need written permission to post or publish the image. Contact the library for help with this.
If your image contains identifiable people, you will need their consent to post or publish the image. Georgian employees and students can refer to our Photo, video and other consent guidelines