Image Permissions and Downloading

The Library considers its extraordinary collection of books, maps, and prints an inalienable resource that has been protected and curated for nearly two centuries, but it also understands the value these sources have for potential audiences throughout the world. The digital revolution has made sharing the collection easier than ever before, allowing us to adopt an open access policy that will help our materials reach anyone who is interested in using them.

Downloading images for study

The easiest way to download full PDFs of our items for study is to access them through Americana. Simply look for the download button in the menu to the left of the image viewer.

An image of the Americana interface highlighting the download button

The download button is in the middle of the left image manipulation menu on Americana.

Downloading images for publication

If you need to download high-resolution images of single pages for publication, you will need to access them through Luna.

Single-page visual materials

When looking through visual material and maps on Luna, take note of the grey “Export” button on the right upper side of the frame. If you click this button, you can download the item in the size that would best suit your needs, from a small thumbnail to an extra-extra large option.

Screenshot of a Luna single item page with a blue arrow pointing to the gray export button

For single-page items, such as this print of pigeons, simply select the gray export button to begin the download process.

Single pages from books

If you want to download a specific page from a book on Luna, you need to first add the specific page to a Media Group.

  • Choose “Create” from the top menu and Create a New Media Group.
  • This will be the “Active Media Group” you will save items to. You can also search for media groups under “Explore.” When you have chosen a media group, a gray tab along the bottom of your screen will tell you what media group is active.
  • Search for the item.
  • Once you have found your item, click “Show book thumbnails” in the menu above the book viewer.
  • Mouse over the page you want. A black box with a + will appear. Clicking this black box will add the single page to your active media group.
  • Click on the gray media group title at the bottom of your screen to expand the group, and select “Go” to go to the media group page.
  • If you select “Export” for the media group as a whole, the system will limit you to the “medium” size – it’s trying to save you from a huge download. Instead, click into the image of the individual page you would like to export before clicking the gray “Export” button.
  • When you click “Export,” you will have the option of selecting the size of your exported file.

Downloading a single page from Luna

Create new media group screen from Luna
Choose “Create” from the top menu and Create a New Media Group. This will be the “Active Media Group” you will save items to. You can also search for media groups under “Explore.” When you have chosen a media group, a gray tab along the bottom of your screen will tell you what media group is active.
Luna screen with Show book thumbnails button circled in blue
Search for your item. Once you have found your item, click “Show book thumbnails” in the menu above the book viewer.
A selection of thumbnails with an arrow pointing to the "add to media group" black plus sign in the corner of one.
Mouse over the page you want. A black box with a + will appear. Clicking this black box will add the single page to your active media group.
An image of single pages in a media group
Click on the gray media group title at the bottom of your screen to expand the group, and select “Go” to go to the media group page.
An image of a single page in a media group with an arrow pointing to the export button
If you select “Export” for the media group as a whole, the system will limit you to the “medium” size – it’s trying to save you from a huge download. Instead, click into the image of the individual page you would like to export before clicking the gray “Export” button. When you click “Export,” you will have the option of selecting the size of your exported file.

Noncommercial Use

Every item in the JCB digital collections—Luna, Internet Archive and Social Media—is licensed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0). This means that you are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

As long as you give appropriate credit (we kindly ask you to use the following credit line: "Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library") and indicate if changes were made. You may use the material in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. 

No prior request is necessary, but the JCB would appreciate knowing about your publication or receiving complimentary copy of the published version of your work (see below).

Commercial Use

If you intend to use an image from JCB digital collections for commercial purposes, the license described above (CC BY 4.0) still applies. You are free to use our digital items as long as you give appropriate credit ("Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library"). 

No prior request is necessary, but the JCB would appreciate knowing about your publication.

Publishing houses, journals, and editors often require that authors provide a written letter of permission for image use. If that is the case, please send us an email and we will process your request. In return, we kindly ask you to send us a copy of the published work.

Send Us a Copy

We would deeply appreciate if anyone using items from JCB's digital collections would send a complimentary copy of their final published work to:

Digitization & Image Requests
The John Carter Brown Library
94 George Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906
USA