DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am wondering if you can obtain a definition of when credit is given when photos appear in the Sun Journal. I understand staff photo credits, but there are times when a nonstaff image will be credited to the photographer and other times when it will only say “submitted photo.”

Surely when the photographer is identified it only benefits everybody to have the proper credit given. — No Name via email

ANSWER: The Sun Journal is not trying to deny anyone credit. Sun Spots hopes that you are not writing because you feel it happened to you?

The most frequent place in the paper where you will see “submitted photo” or no credit at all is on the Connections, or community news, pages (usually B3) or the Encore section (back two pages). All of that information is submitted by local groups or individuals and printed as a community service, usually without credit for either the writing or photography.

Occasionally a professional photographer will ask for credit for a photo he or she has taken for the group. Then the credit may show that name and submitted photo as well.

Sometimes a photo may be offered by an organization whose staff took the photo and no credit is requested. For example, you might see that with a story about an upcoming event, such as a publicity photo for a play.

There may also be times when the photographer is unknown, such as a photo in the public domain (no longer copyright protected) or off the Web.

If you see a photo on the front pages of the sections without credit it may be because a government official, such as a police officer or firefighter, took it and prefers to remain anonymous.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: When you go to Google.com sometimes the cutest pages pop up. Some are animated but all are funny, cute and appropriate to season, holiday, happenings, etc. Other times it is just the same boring symbol.

Curious as to who is so creative? Kudos to them and to you, dear Sun Spots.

I’d love to know more about you and the column. Have you ever published anything about yourself? — S.L., Jay

ANSWER: A couple of years ago Sun Spots heard an interview on the radio with one of the Google team members who create the special icons on the Google home page. As you can imagine, those jobs are coveted and difficult to get. The graphic designer who was interviewed said the job is also a great deal of fun.

As for this column, Sun Spots wrote about its history and herself in March 2012. According to longtime employees, it began in the 1970s, but finding the exact date would take way too much digging through the archives.

There have only been a few “Sun Spots,” probably less than 10. Your current correspondent has been writing it since September 2009, but will soon be handing over the reins.

The job is much easier now than it was back in the early days, thanks to the Internet. Previous Sun Spotses had to call and write to find experts, rather than mostly googling.

Sometimes Sun Spots has been done by employees, other times by freelancers. Your current Sun Spots works from home.

This Sun Spots did not stay put until she found her way to Maine, moving more than 40 times, living in half-a-dozen states and working lots of different jobs in many different industries, including banking, horse training, restaurants, retail, textbook publishing, etc. and etc.

This large variety of experience is both a help and hindrance. Sometimes Sun Spots thinks she knows the answer to a question, but research or readers reveal that she is not as smart as she thought she was.

Perhaps some of the previous Sun Spots will write in and share some of their experiences or offer more detailed history about the origins of the column.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to know when the Central Maine Community College dean’s list will be published. I made the dean’s list for the first time, and I am very excited to see it in the paper. I need to buy about 10 copies of it for my family! Thank you so very much. — Diane via email

ANSWER: “Matters of Record” items such as the dean’s list are published as they arrive from schools and as space allows.

In addition to reading the paper, if you search regularly for your name at sunjournal.com, it will give you the date of publication. Then you can purchase additional copies of the paper at the customer service desk.

You can find customer service at 104 Park St. in Lewiston, 207-784-5411 or 800-482-0753. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected].