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Visual Literacy

Finding

One of the first steps towards finding the right image(s) for your work is determining what need the image will be filling. What purpose will the image hold for you? Is it to illustrate a point, provide a document of evidence, or serve as a primary document--even silly images used to break up a wall of text can be helpful when used thoughtfully. If you know what you want your image to do, it will help you understand better the kinds of images that will be most useful. A photograph can be great for contextualizing a moment in history, but if you are trying to visualize the data points collected in a study, you are likely better served by an infographic.

Figure 1
The World's Progress

No known restrictions on publication. For information see: "Popular Graphic Arts," https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/res.248.pga

This image of time zones from 1855 might be neat to look at, but it doesn't really support the purpose of this guide (outside of being an example of a poor choice of image).

The ACRL's first standard for visual literacy recommends you not only be capable of articulating the need your image is filling, but also the variety of image forms, sources, types, etc. By familiarizing yourself with the databases and repositories you find images through, the kinds of images available (paintings, photographs, data models), and they ways those kinds of images are and can be used, you can feel confident you are finding the right kinds of images for your needs. These skills take time and practice to develop, so be patient and mindful as you explore the variety of visual materials at your fingertips!

Using

When considering the different ways you can use an image, it's good to return to the 4Ws mentioned in the Evaluating an Image section of this guide. When you answer those questions, do your answers suit the needs you outlined when finding your image?

  1. What do I see?
  2. What does it remind me of?
  3. What is the artist's purpose?
  4. So what? Why does it matter?

Citing

It is always important to give credit to the creators of any images used in your work by including proper citations. Different citation styles will ask you to format citations for an image differently--it is a good practice to double check the specific formatting required for the citation style you are using. This research guide includes examples of images cited in MLA and APA formats.

Style Reference Entry In-Text Citation
APA Last Name, Initials. (Year). Image Title [Format]. Website or Location. URL (Last Name, Year)
  Rothstein, A. (1939). Girls dancing in tavern. Colp, Illinois [Safety film negative]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. USA https://lccn.loc.gov/2017777095 (Rothstein, 1939)
MLA Last Name, First Name. "Title" or Description of Image. Website or Location, Day Month Year, URL. (Last Name)
  Rothstein, Arthur "Girls dancing in tavern. Colp, Illinois. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C., January 1939, https://lccn.loc.gov/2017777095 (Rothstein)