Mystery solved ….. and a confirmation of the honest and right way to do things ....

I won’t be alone I think in wondering why I haven’t been able to access Manchester Libraries digital collection of photographs.

St Andrew's School, 1920 Ancoats

At the last count there were over 80, 000 with some of them also appearing on a Flicker account.

A long time ago I sought permission to reproduce images from the collection on the blog with the clear understanding that I would acknowledge Manchester libraries and include the reference number and credit the photographer.  To which I also added the date.

But for perhaps six months the site has been down and despite requests for information all I got was that it “had issues”.  

This week in response to another request I got the promising reply that “Unfortunately the site is provided by a third-party company and there are still apparently problems that they need to fix, although we are assured it is nearly ready. In the meantime, you can see most of the images by going to http://gmlives.org.uk/results.html and selecting photograph as the category”.

All of which is very promising but makes me reflect on the request I made a decade and a bit ago to use their pictures is the simple observation that I don’t hold the copyright and like any images which I haven’t created they are not mine to use without permission.

Now I know in the case of the 80,000 most were donated by individuals who perhaps are the real copyright holders, but it remains the case they ain’t mine to use unless I ask and get the go ahead.

Not that that troubles many on social media who happily download and post away with no reference to where they came from, where they were taken and a date.

At best they leave a caption along the lines of “an old part of the city” which is as useful as reflecting “it was different in the past”.

Dates, locations and the name of the author are all important in providing context to the image, and help tell a story.

 Palais De Luxe cinema, Barlow Moor Road, circa 1928

And it matters.

Years ago someone reposted a picture I had used of an old Chorlton cinema, ignored  the story that came with it and so rendered its real value worthless.

Because the source came from an archive in east Scotland in a collection devoted to the Lion Foundry and had been taken by a local Chorlton photographer called Charles Ireland in the early 1920s.

All of which was important in telling the story of this cinema and throwing light on the fact that it had been taken to illustrate the cast iron and glass veranda which fronted the building. 

Equally important was Charles Ireland who not only lived in Chorlton but was a recognised photographer with studios in Manchester.

Abandoned, Rochdale Canal, 1979

Finally, the date helped locate the films being shown that week and provided extra information on the concert party that was down to perform live.

Angel Street, 1900

All of which means that using the catalogue entry is important, as is seeking permission.

When it comes down to it someone took the picture and at the very least they or the present holders should have the right to decide where and how it should be used.

And it is not enough just to mutter “well it was out there so its fair game to be used”, which in a different context could be used to justify walking away with a bike parked outside a shop.

Many of us have seen images we have taken, or accounts we have written stolen and reused on the most inappropriate sites in a context which does little credit to the original piece of work.

Common Lodging House, Angel Street, 1897

So I shall be pleased when those 80,000 images are back online and will continue to be careful to credit Manchester Libraries and offer up all the information from the catalogue.

Location; Manchester

Pictures; St Andrew’s School, Homer Street, 1920, m48646, Angel Street common lodging house, 1897, m08365, Angel Street, 1900, Samuel L Coulthurst, m08978, S.L.Coulthurst, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass,  The Rochdale Canal, 1979, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, Palais De Luxe cinema, circa 1928, Charles Ireland, GD10-07-04-6-13-01 courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Archives