FAQ - Images

Do You Have a Question About...

• Using or visiting the Library
• Copying library materials
• Ordering or licensing images
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Ordering and Licensing Images

Q. How do I order a print or a scan of an image?

For images found in the Collections Online database, click the 'Buy' button and follow the instructions.

Q. Why do some images have a 'Buy' button while others do not?

Images with no 'Buy' button are not for sale by the Society. In some cases these images may be available for purchase from another source, such as the artist or photographer who created it. If this information is known it will be found in the record for the image.

Q. May I order images online from a manuscript or other MHS collection?

No. Online ordering of images is limited to those found in the Collections Online database. To order photographs from manuscripts and other collections, use the Image Order Form (PDF).

Q. May I order images without providing my credit card information online?

Yes. However, in order to properly track your order, we ask you to place it using our online system. Instead of paying with a credit card online, during the checkout process you can request an 'Offline Payment' and then send your payment in the mail. When we receive payment, we’ll process your order.

Q. For an image, what is a Use Agreement and why do I need one?

You need a Use Agreement to verify that you have requested and received permission from the Minnesota Historical Society to use an image in a commercial or public manner. The Use Agreement entitles you to use the image in the way you indicated and within the terms specified in the Conditions of Use.

Q. What are the different types of image use?

• Sister Elizabeth KennyPersonal Use: The image(s) will be used only in a private home or office.
   
• Minnesota Non-Profit: The image(s) will be published, displayed, or broadcast by a Minnesota 501(c)(3) organization. Any profit from the publication, display, or broadcast will go into the account of the non-profit organization and not to any individual or corporation.
   
• Commercial or Non-Minnesota Non-Profit: The image(s) will be published, displayed, or broadcast in a commercial environment for profit. This includes commercial website representing a person or corporation who sells goods or services. OR The image(s) will be published, displayed, or broadcast by a non-profit organization based outside the state of Minnesota.
   
• Minnesota Media Company: A publisher or broadcaster whose audience base is primarily within Minnesota.
   
• Public Display: The image(s) will be displayed in a public environment, such as a restaurant, museum, sales office, or reception area, or on a website, blog, or mobile medium available to the public.

Q. If I already have an image but not a Use Agreement, how do I get a Use Agreement without purchasing the image again?

1. Locate the image in the Collections Online database.
2. Click the 'Buy' button.
3. In the store, scroll to the bottom of the products listed and select 'Use Only – No Image.'
4. If you have the order number of the original order, enter it into the Additional Comments box found on the Billing Information page of the online store. If not, proceed to Step 5.
5. Complete the order.