Smithsonian Releases 2.8M Images into Public Domain (smithsonianmag.com)

Article summary

The Smithsonian Institution has released 2.8 million high-resolution images into the public domain, making them available for free download and use. The images are part of a new open access platform that features data and material from all 19 Smithsonian museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo. The release is part of a growing global effort to migrate museum collections into the public domain, with the goal of increasing accessibility and promoting innovation. The Smithsonian plans to roll out an additional 200,000 images throughout 2020.

Main themes

• open access
• public domain
• cultural heritage
• digital platforms
• innovation
• accessibility
• technical challenges
• user experience
• open data
• cultural preservation

What commenters say

• The release of the images is a significant step towards making cultural and historical content more accessible to the public.
• Some commenters are concerned about the potential for commercial exploitation of the images, while others argue that this is a necessary risk to take in order to promote creativity and innovation.
• The use of open access platforms and APIs can help to facilitate the discovery and reuse of cultural and historical content.
• There are technical challenges to accessing and using the images, including issues with search functionality and image loading times.
• The release of the images is seen as a positive development for researchers, artists, and educators, who can now use the images without having to obtain permission or pay licensing fees.
• Some commenters are critical of the platform's user interface and functionality, citing issues with pagination, scrolling, and image display.
• The release of the images is part of a broader trend towards open access and open data, which has the potential to transform the way that cultural and historical content is created, shared, and used.
• There are ongoing discussions about the best ways to balance the need for open access with the need to protect sensitive or culturally significant content.