Permissions

Beginning in 2020, the Folger’s building renovation project will periodically affect imaging services. We will be unavailable May 4 – July 5, 2020. During the renovation, we may not be able to fill requests for images requiring new photography.

Permission to use website content

The Folger licenses most content on this website under a Creative Commons license. For information on this license, please visit our Copyright page.

Permission to publish images

Images in our digital image database are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0) unless another copyright holder is stated. 

To request permission to publish images beyond the scope of this Creative Commons license, please fill out the application form completely and email, fax or mail it to: 
 
Photography and Digital Imaging
Folger Shakespeare Library
201 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Fax: (202) 608-1715
 
Note that permission is granted for one time, one edition, one publication, one broadcast, one digital press run, or one website use only; further use requires separate application. 
 
See our list of publication fees for information about our fee structure.
 
If you need to show evidence to a publisher that you have permission to use Folger images, please direct them to this website or share this letter about our permission policy with them. 
 
If your publisher requires a formal letter of permission, please fill out the application form.     
 
The Folger waives permission fees for non-commercial publication by registered non-profits, including university presses, regardless of the license used.
 

Images under copyright

Our digital image collection contains thumbnails of some images that are under copyright. Larger versions of these images may be available. Individuals are responsible for obtaining written confirmation from the current copyright holder granting the Folger permission to reproduce the image(s) for the uses requested.  A copy of an email exchange is valid. 

Permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder directly

 

Citations

We request that you identify images in the following manner:

[Call #, signature/folio/page/etc.] Used by permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

However, if you are able, we prefer the expanded citation provided below.  If you need any bibliographic information for your Folger images, please let us know.

Author. Title (Place of publication, publication date), signature/folio/page (if applicable).  Call #: XXX. Used by permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

example: John Speed (1552? – 1629). Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (London: [T. Snodham], 1616), plate after page 137: Map of Ireland.  Call #: STC 23044. Used by permission of the Folger Shakespeare Library under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

For images you produce yourself, please use:

[Call #, signature/folio/page/etc.].  Photograph by [your name here], from the collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library.

 

Permission to quote text

To request permission to publish text beyond the scope of the Creative Commons license, please contact us at webmaster@folger.edu.

No permission is required to quote excerpts or publish transcriptions from items in the collection not under copyright.

Permission for on-site filming

Please contact Garland Scott, head of external relations, at (202) 675-0342 or gscott@folger.edu