The Athenaeum will be closed on December 31st and January 1st and resume normal business hours on January 2nd

Scans & Permissions Requests

Digitized images of public domain materials without copyright constraints can be accessed and downloaded for free from the Athenaeum’s Digital Collections repository or our Paintings & Sculpture Online database for your own research, for teaching and presentations, or for non-commercial projects. There is no fee for this service. No permission is required, although attribution is required.

The Athenaeum’s preferred credit line for all uses is: Boston Athenaeum.

Materials Not Already Digitized, Higher Quality Scans & Permissions

Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and permission to reproduce is given at the discretion of the Boston Athenaeum. 

Scans and permissions requests may take up to 4 weeks. Please indicate the date by which images are needed if it is sooner and we will do our best to accommodate your timeline.

How To Request Scans and/or Permissions

  1. Register with our Special Collections system. All image deliveries are managed here.
  2. Determine the item you would like to request images of and/or permissions for:

a. Explore the Online Catalog or Digital Collections website. Once you find an object you want to request, click on Purchase Scans/Permissions.

or

b. In the Special Collections system, select New Requests > Imaging Order Request. Manually fill out the form with all item and intended publication information.

Please be as specific as possible when describing items requested and intended use/publication details.

Imaging Fees

Existing Images New Imaging
$10.00 per item $20.00 per item ≤20 pages
$2.00 per item image >20 pages

‘Items’ are determined by unique call number. Manuscripts and archival materials are designated as items at the box level.

Delivery

  • Image file formats: TIFF, JPEG, PDF
  • Images can include color targets by request
  • All files will have the following minimum quality: 400dpi, at least 2,000 pixels long edge
    • We may be able to accommodate requests for images exceeding 6,000 pixels. Please include specific requirements in your request and a member of the digitization team will contact you.

Permission to Reproduce

Non-Profit and University Press Books & E-Books (Including Textbooks)

Up to 2,000 copies: $50
2,001 to 5,000 copies: $100
5,001 to 20,000 copies: $150
Over 20,000 copies: $200		 Front Cover: $100
Front Cover: $150
Front Cover: $200
Front Cover: $250		 Back Cover: $75
Back Cover: $125
Back Cover: $175
Back Cover: $225

Commercial Books & E-Books

Up to 2,000 copies: $75
2,001 to 5,000 copies: $125
5,001 to 20,000 copies: $175
Over 20,000 copies: $225		 Front Cover: $125
Front Cover: $175
Front Cover: $225
Front Cover: $275		 Back Cover: $100
Back Cover: $150
Back Cover: $200
Back Cover: $250

All other uses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These include, but are not limited to: Advertising, Journals, Electronic Publications, On-demand Publications, CD/DVD, Ephemera.

The following use cases are exempt from Boston Athenaeum permissions fees, but still incur imaging fees:

  • Theses, dissertations, and other academic assignments that will not be published
  • Slide presentations and lectures
  • Approved press requests made through the Director of Communications
  • Use of images on free webpages and social media (blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
  • Use for personal research

Copyright

The Boston Athenaeum makes digital copies of works available in accordance with 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Fair Use, which authorizes the use of works protected by copyright without permission for “purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, … scholarship or research.” Usage, transmission, downloading, or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by Fair Use Copyright Law requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Determining the existence of copyright or any other legal restrictions, as well as obtaining permission from the copyright holder, is solely the responsibility of the user. The Boston Athenaeum cannot make such determinations for the user. The Boston Athenaeum also reserves the right to deny permission to reproduce images of any works in our collections based on copyright considerations and other factors.

Copyright Holders

The Boston Athenaeum respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you are a copyright holder and are concerned that you have found material made available on the Boston Athenaeum’s Digital Collections website without your permission, and believe our inclusion of this material violates your rights, please contact digitalprograms@bostonathenaeum.org and include the following:

  • Your contact information (including email address and phone),
  • URL where you found the material,
  • Details that describe the material (title, creator’s name, number of items, etc.),
  • The reason why you believe that your rights have been violated, with any pertinent documentation.

Upon receipt of a request, Boston Athenaeum staff will acknowledge the request via email or other means of communication if you do not have an email account. Thereafter, the validity of your concerns will be assessed. Upon request, we may temporarily remove the material from public view while we address the concern. Upon completion of the assessment, we will take appropriate action and communicate that action to you.

The Boston Athenaeum’s copyright policies on digital surrogates are informed by the Association of Research Libraries’ Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries and similar polices formed by the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), University of Wisconsin—Madison, Chicago Public Library, and the University of California—San Diego.