Comments on: From the archives, for a fee

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:57:36 +0000

Indeed I’m sure you’re right Chris, and certainly York Libraries and Archives are undergoing a lot of changes at present, probably rushed off their feet already. I have to say that personally I’ve always found the archive and library staff really helpful, and that this page was no way intended as having a go at them - it’s really only about asking questions about an outdated and unworkable rule.

Attempting to enforce it would give them even more work to do. Which is why I hope the authority will stop insisting on implementing a charge for web use, as it’s clearly not working.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:07:49 +0000

Pity the poor archivists - they have lots to do, are probably facing lots of cuts, and so their ‘to do’ list for making catalogue corrections to individual items (which are not revenue-raising…) is almost certain to be growing faster than they can spare the time to make the corrections.

By: stephen keith

stephen keith — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:26:14 +0000

Yes, it was the “Tell us more” facility I used. I was lucky with the telephone box. It was a model that was in use for a very limited time. At the junction of Poppy Rd and Acomb Rd if you are interested in seeing it. Easily found in the archive. I don’t disagree that linking is important.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:09:28 +0000

Have you seen the ‘Tell us more’ facility? If you can remember which photo it was you can add the information you mentioned that way? (Though haven’t tried it myself.)

I like your use of a phone box to help with dating the image.

You’re right that wider exposure can mean more people are able to add the ’story’ to an image, but I suppose that only works if the photo retains its context and the information stays linked. As you know of course the council’s online archive already contains background information carefully added by volunteers, and if the photo is copied to Facebook or wherever without that link it means that useful information is lost, and added comments are adrift from the place where they’d be of most use - still linked to the image in the local authority archives.

That said, I’m having some problems with links in to the archive throwing up an error at the moment …

By: Stephen Keith

Stephen Keith — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:42:31 +0000

Your point about adding value to an image seems particularly important when it is part of a public archive. Encouraging wider exposure can only benifit that process as well as bring to light any inaccuracies in catalogue descriptions. Like you I find it fascinating to find images which enrich my understanding of my family history. Through it first coming to my attention on Facebook I found a photograph from the City archive of where my grandparents lived and was interested in dating it to see if it was when my mother was a child there.The catalogue said 1910’s but I was rather proud of myself in using the telephone box to date it close to 1929 (if I remember). I emailed the library pointing out the mistake in their catalogue and despite this being some months ago they have not bothered to change it.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:21:18 +0000

Have thought before about putting my own photos under a Creative Commons license, but think many don’t look at the requirements of the different types, would just see ‘Creative Commons’ and think ‘free and with no restrictions whatsoever’, which of course isn’t necessarily the case.

I guess that whatever license type is set some will respect the terms of it and some won’t. I don’t think there is a simple and straightforward solution, but anything is better than the current setup CoYC have.