Digital Imaging Services
Avery's Digital Imaging Studio creates high-resolution image files representing our special collections materials. Depending on the intended use, there may be additional fees or conditions, and we do not hold the rights for the vast majority of the objects we steward. Please email the relevant department to begin an order:
- Art Properties: artproperties@library.columbia.edu
- Avery Classics (rare books): avery-classics@library.columbia.edu
- Avery Drawings & Archives: avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu
Please see below for pricing and turnaround times. Email Avery Imaging, averyimaging@columbia.edu, with any questions about the process.
Avery's policy is to provide the digital image files representing our collection materials for publication, exhibition, or online use (including blog posts). Reference images taken by you in our reading room are for your research and study use only.
Examples where Avery must provide images:
- Publication (book, journal article, exhibition catalog, in print or digital formats)
- Exhibition (reproduction to be displayed in a gallery, building lobby, etc.)
- Press (newspaper, magazine article)
- Online use (blog post, community forum)
Examples where personal reference images are fine to use:
- Academic work (study purposes, coursework, teaching, conference presentations)
- Research for restoration purposes (by home/building owner, architecture/engineering firms)
- Internal reports not intended for publication (e.g. architecture/engineering firms)
Curatorial approval is required for images used for exhibitions, model-building, or publications in which the majority of images are sourced from Avery collections, or at the discretion of Avery Library staff.
All images representing material in Avery’s collections must be appropriately cited and credited (see examples on how to cite our collections for Drawings & Archives and Classics).
We strongly encourage onsite research in our collections, either by the researcher or by someone on their behalf. Due to limited resources, staff cannot conduct research on behalf of remote researchers, but may be able to recommend a graduate student for hire.
Users must plan enough time to conduct research to identify materials prior to placing an imaging order. Depending on the project, this process can take a few days to a few months.
Images can be requested from Drawings & Archives and from Avery Classics.
To request an image from Drawings & Archives, please provide the following information to avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu:
(1) a reference image of the item in question
(2) collection name
(3) box and folder numbers
(4) item accession number (if available)
(5) item title or brief description
(6) intended use of the image
To request an image from Avery Classics, please provide the following information to avery-classics@library.columbia.edu:
(1) call number
(2) author
(3) title
(4) page or plate number(s), or reference image of plate(s) requested
(5) intended use of the image
The turnaround time for new imaging is eight weeks from the time of payment to the delivery of image files. Please note that the time required for research and identification of material within our collections is not included in the eight weeks.
The imaging team will confirm your order’s timeline for delivery before taking payment.
Due to our ongoing imaging queue and out of fairness to all patrons, we are unable to accommodate rush requests.
Our imaging team will provide you with a quote after assessing your order.
Fees for new imaging begin at $50 for most materials, and increase if an object and/or the required output size are larger than 35 x 42 inches. Those files require several images and digital stitches to create.
Existing digital files representing collection materials are available for $15 each.
Usage fees may be incurred for exhibitions, print runs of a large scale or commercial nature, and book covers.
Payment by credit card is preferred. We accept major credit cards through a secure online portal. We also accept checks drawn from U.S. accounts.
Your imaging request is considered confirmed once payment is received. This means the order is scheduled for photography and no further modifications can be made to the request.
We deliver TIFF files at a minimum resolution of 300 ppi unless otherwise specified by Avery or requested by the patron. Requests for special sizing and usage must be received before payment is received and the order is photographed.
Image files will be delivered via download links to WeTransfer or Google Drive depending on the size of the order.
It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission from the appropriate copyright holder. In most cases, Avery Library owns only the physical object and does not assume responsibility for intellectual property, copyright, or other legal issues involved in the publication and reproduction of items from its collections. Click here for information on rights and reproductions.
All images representing material in Avery’s collections must be appropriately cited and credited (see examples on how to cite our collections for Drawings & Archives and Classics).