You can use scanners, operated by your library account, to make copies from our collections. You can also use your own camera in the library, subject to some regulations.
Copying and photography
What’s on this page
Photographic services, Photo: Thomas SG Farnetti. Source: Wellcome Collection. Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Copying
If you want to make a copy of something from our collections, first check our library catalogue to see if there’s already a digital copy. We have thousands of high-quality digital images, books and unpublished materials from our collections, which are easily accessed online, and most can be downloaded.
Whether you’re using your own camera or our copying facilities, please remember that you can only make copies for research and study or for non-commercial personal use. It’s your responsibility to observe UK copyright law.
Scanners
We provide scanners rather than photocopiers in the library in order to minimise wear and tear on items in our collections. The scanning service is only available to members of the library.
The scanners are available on levels 2 and 3 in the library. Digital copies can be saved to your USB/memory stick (we don’t supply USB sticks in the library), or printed out on our network printers.
Using your own camera
You’re allowed to use your own digital camera to make copies of most items in our collections. But please be sure to observe the library’s handling guidelines and UK copyright regulations.
If you want to make your own copies of items in the Rare Materials Room (RMR), please check with staff at the RMR enquiry desk first, as special handling rules apply for these materials. Our staff can answer any questions you have about copying from the collections.
Photography service
Our photography service can provide you with high resolution images of items from our collections. The service is free and takes approximately four weeks for delivery, for large orders it may take longer.
Before placing an order, please check our library catalogue to see if there is already a digital version of the item. If a digitised version exists, you’ll be able to download a copy from the catalogue. If you require larger files please do not place an order, email digitisation@wellcome.org with your request.
Please don’t request to see the item through the library catalogue if you are ordering a copy as this stops the photography service from requesting it from the stores and it will slow down your photography order.
If an item is still in copyright and you intend to use it for commercial rather than research purposes, you will have to provide us with written permission from the copyright owner before we can provide copies.
To request images, please complete the online photography order form.
If you have any questions about the photography service, please contact digitisation@wellcome.org
