diff --git a/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py b/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
index be0c5b41f2e6b97d752a985f3bb7ea8166446182..d1318159ae57f5f7159aa3bbf51a455698d0c6b8 100644
--- a/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
+++ b/geomagio/processing/copy_absolutes.py
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ def copy_absolutes(
     """Copy absolutes from the web absolutes service OR residual spreadsheets into the metadata service."""
     if factory.value == ResidualFactory.WEB_ABSOLUTES:
         factory = WebAbsolutesFactory(url=web_absolutes_url)
-        source_factory = "webabsolutes"
+        created_by_label = "webabsolutes"
     else:
         factory = SpreadsheetAbsolutesFactory(base_directory=directory)
-        source_factory = "spreadsheet"
+        created_by_label = "spreadsheet"
 
     readings = get_readings(
         factory=factory,
@@ -92,11 +92,13 @@ def copy_absolutes(
     ) as progressbar:
         for reading in progressbar:
             upload_reading(
-                factory=metadata_factory, reading=reading, source_factory=source_factory
+                factory=metadata_factory,
+                reading=reading,
+                created_by_label=created_by_label,
             )
 
 
-def create_reading_metadata(reading: Reading, source_factory) -> Metadata:
+def create_reading_metadata(reading: Reading, created_by_label: str) -> Metadata:
     """Create reading metadata object.
 
     Parameters
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ def create_reading_metadata(reading: Reading, source_factory) -> Metadata:
     measurement_times = [m.time for m in reading.measurements if m.time]
     metadata = Metadata(
         category=MetadataCategory.READING,
-        created_by=(source_factory),
+        created_by=(created_by_label),
         endtime=max(measurement_times),
         metadata=json.loads(reading.json()),
         network="NT",
@@ -162,7 +164,7 @@ def main() -> None:
 
 
 def upload_reading(
-    factory: MetadataFactory, reading: Reading, source_factory
+    factory: MetadataFactory, reading: Reading, created_by_label: str
 ) -> Metadata:
     """Upload reading to metadata service
 
@@ -177,7 +179,9 @@ def upload_reading(
     -------
     created metadata object
     """
-    metadata = create_reading_metadata(reading=reading, source_factory=source_factory)
+    metadata = create_reading_metadata(
+        reading=reading, created_by_label=created_by_label
+    )
     # TODO: should this check if metadata was already uploaded?
     # TODO: should that check occur before calling this method?
     return factory.create_metadata(metadata=metadata)