Please read the information below carefully to assess the steps and fees for publishing images from the San Francisco Public Library. All requests are subject to copyright law.
Permission to Publish
Please use the following chart to determine whether you must obtain copyright permission from the rightsholder (which may be the Library) to publish content from within the Library’s collections, and whether a fee may be assessed.
| Copyright Status of Work | Permission Requirements |
| Work is in the public domain | No copyright permission is needed or provided. No fee to publish. Currently, the Library recognizes if the work was published in the United States prior to 1929, it is in the public domain. Other types of works the Library categorizes in the public domain are U.S. government works and works created by the City & County of San Francisco. |
| San Francisco Public Library owns copyright | Library’s copyright permission is required to publish. Submit the appropriate Permission to Publish form and use fees will BE tabulated. |
| Third party owns copyright | Submit the appropriate Permission to Publish form. The Library will share contact information for the copyright holder or the copyright holder’s estate (if on file). You are solely responsible for clearing the copyright with the rights holder. Any fee schedule is set by actual copyright holder and the Library will not charge a use fee. Due diligence may be required by the researcher to locate the copyright holder. |
Publication Fees Per Image
| One-time use (book, journal, exhibition, magazine/newspaper, commercial décor, brochures/flyers) | $15 |
| Book worldwide use, all languages, all media and formats (whether now known or hereafter devised), cover or interior | $45 |
| Film/Television (including set design), all media use (productions that will be released in more than one medium i.e., broadcast, home video, streaming) | $100 |
For more information about permissions and licensing of images, please email sfphoto@sfpl.org , call the San Francisco History Center Photo Desk: 415-557-4567, or visit during the open hours of the Photo Desk .
Permission Forms
One-Time Use Permission to Publish Form (PDF)
Book Worldwide Permission to Publish form (PDF)
Film Worldwide Permission to Publish form (PDF)
The Library will not fill out any vendor paperwork.
Citing Images:
All reproductions of collection materials must include the credit line provided by SFPL. Image orders will include a full citation upon delivery and on the countersigned Permission to Publish form. Credit lines must appear near the reproduction or in a special section devoted to credits. General credit line: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Images from specific archival collections in the archives:
- [Photographer name (if given)], [Collection Name], SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
- [Photographer name (if given)], [Collection Name], HORMEL LGBTQIA CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Academic Uses & Governmental Organizations
There is no fee for academic uses which include: dissertation, thesis, class presentation, or any academic publication that is not for sale. Please submit a Permission to Publish form for dissertation, thesis and free academic publication use and use fees will be waived. A Permission to Publish form is not required for class presentations.
There is no usage fee for agencies of the Federal, State, or City government or for commercial organizations or individuals doing pro bono work for government agencies. Please submit a Permission to Publish form and use fees will be waived.
Social Media Use
The Library has fantastic images to post, tweet and share. These are FREE to use on social media channels.
- Instagram: tag @sfpubliclibrary #SanFranciscoArchives #SFPubliclibrary when sharing Library images
- Facebook: tag our page in your Facebook library image posts by using @SanFranciscoPublicLibrary.
Blogs and Websites
For personal blogs and websites - photos can be used for free as long as the photos are not used for commercial purposes (meaning in an advertisement or in any way intended to sell a product, raise money, or promote or endorse something). A Permission to Publish form is not required. The credit line for the image posted should read: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY. We request that the credit line links back to https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library/historical-photographs.
For commercial blogs and websites - a Permission to Publish form is required with the one-time use fee of $15 per image. The credit line for the image posted should read: SAN FRANCISCO HISTORY CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY. We request that the credit line links back to https://sfpl.org/locations/main-library/historical-photographs.