Materials (maps, photographs, diagrams, digital images, reports, books, etc.) created by employees of the federal government while on the job is in the public domain (NOT protected by copyright)—that's why most of the sites listed below are government sites.
Regardless of the site, always check for copyright and use restrictions. Some of the materials DO have some restrictions and as a teacher you need to be aware of them. For example, some of the Smithsonian images must be used as is with no modifications.
Creative Commons – This nonprofit organization’s goal is to distribute for flexible copyright licenses to creators to determine which rights they would like to reserve and which rights they would like to waive for the benefit of recipients and other creators. Search for legal content at this website.
Public Domain Pictures – This is a repository for free, downloadable images.
Project Gutenberg – This site offers over 36,000 free, downloadable e-books. Find books for school or for other reading at this site available for download onto your computer, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Android, or other devices!
Flickr – A popular site where user-created content can be put into Creative Commons. Use the advanced search to limit results to Creative Commons content. Millions of pictures are available for your use.
Google Image Advanced Search - Use the Google search engine to find images that can be used commercially, free to modify and free to share. Add search criteria like type of image and format to hone down exactly what you want.
If you are planning to show a film on campus or are creating a document that will be used commercially, please note that there are limits to what you can do. These documents will help you through the process of dealing with Copyright.
*This link is extremely useful in dealing with Copyright issues and questions: http://librarycopyright.net/resources/
ccMixter - Thousands of free sounds and music to download and use.
Piano Society - Classical piano music uploaded by users that is free to use.
YouTube Audio Library - Download background music for your video, completely free.
Jamendo - An independent music community with unlimited free streaming and downloading.
Free Music Archive - Many genres available as well as curated sounds to help you find what you need.
SoundBible - Free sound clips, sound bites and sound effects.
Audionautix by Jason Shaw - Original, electronic songs that are free to use.
Netlabels - Part of the Internet Archive. The collection is completely free with catalogs of virtual record labels.
Partners in Rhyme - Some pay and some free content. Also has effects, Midi and loops to use.
Moby Gratis - Created by the artist, Moby, Online application system, which registers you to use the site.
Incompetech - Background music to download by Kevin MacLeod.
Sound Search Engine - Huge site for finding sound effects.
Splashbase.co - Images and video to freely use.
Classic Cat - Find classical music for video soundtracks.
Purple Planet - Lots of free full length songs to download and use.
Zap Splat - Free sound effects with a huge variety to choose from.
Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project - Mostly Public Domain songs that have been digitized before 1924.
Soungle - Royalty free sound effect search engine.
Freesound.org - Samples and search engine with a forum for discussions.