SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

I have over 70 photographs in my book plus six historical maps and 13 custom maps. For every illustration except the custom maps, I have to:

• Find the source of the picture or map. Is it in a book? At the Archives of Ontario in Toronto? At Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa? In a library? At a museum? In a private collection? In my camera?
• Find out if the picture or map is under copyright or in the public domain.
• If it’s under copyright, find out who owns the copyright. Ask permission to reprint.
• Regardless of whether the illustration is under copyright or in the public domain, note the proper way to reference the source – each organization or person requires something specific for this. Here’s an example from Archives of Ontario: RG15-13-3 Barcode F000932, File item RG-15-13-3-0-294-1.
• Get an electronic copy of the picture in .tiff format, at least 300 dpi resolution for printing.
• Store the picture in the proper folder on my computer, corresponding to the chapter it will appear in.
• Write a caption for the picture and store it in a separate file, with a name corresponding to that of the illustration so they can be matched up later by the publisher. Include the proper source reference.
• Keep track in a separate chart: the name of the illustration, the source, whether I have it or I am still chasing after it, whether I have permission to reprint in writing, and from whom.

70 photographs. Six historical maps. All form part of the submission to the publisher.

I feel like a new homeowner with a piece of furniture from Ikea and only an Allen key to help me.