SEARCH

In Postcards from the Past, you can search:

• for a single image or expand your search across a number of images
• for a word or phrase that may appear anywhere in a document or image (full text of some documents has been indexed)
• for a word or phrase in the description of a document or image
• for information in a specific time period
• for a publisher

In Postcards from the Past, each digital image is described using several categories of information:

• by time period
• by subject
• by index number
• by publisher

Search options:

• Search for a word or words by typing your search in the window at the top of the home page. This search works best when you are looking for a known item, like the name of a place or person or event, and you are certain that there should be a digital image in Postcards from the Past.
• Browse a category such as churches by clicking on the drop down menus included in the right-hand navigation bar (Buildings, Churches, Aboriginals, etc). This search is useful for discovering what types of materials are included in Postcards from the Past.
• Use more Search options available on the Advanced Search screen. Click on the Advanced Search link on the navigation bar at the top of the screen. These searches work best when you already have experience using Postcards from the Past.

SEARCH TIPS

• You can use upper or lower case when you type your search words. It will not affect your results.
• Do not use any punctuation.
• Truncating, or entering only a portion of a word, will expand your search (farm* for farmers and farming). The truncation symbol is an asterisk *.
• The best way to find information by date is to choose a time period and then search. Results will be limited to the time period chosen.
• You may also search for a specific year. Remember that Postcards from the Past may not include a digital image for the year that you’ve chosen. Broadening your search to a time period will probably lead to better search results.

VIEWING RESULTS

• Search results are presented in alphabetical order, by title.
• If your search produces more results than can be displayed on one page, click the hyperlinked page numbers to view other results pages. The results page will display ten results per page.
• Click on the link labeled “more...” to view the detailed information for that record.
• Titles- displays only item titles. Hyperlinked column headers indicate that search results can be sorted.
• Also See: searches postcard database for similar postcards to the currently viewed one.
• Browse Catalogue: searches the Calgary Public Library Catalogue based on Library of Congress subject Headings assigned to the postcard
• Google Search: searches Google based on keywords assigned to the postcard

PRINTING, SAVING, AND EMAIL

• To print an image or source record in the Postcards from the Past Collection, click on the Print button on your web browser.
• If you have access to the File/Save As options on your web browser, you can save images for later re-use as either an HTML page or to be included in an email.
• After viewing images, add them to a Favorites page
• Click on Favorites on the navigation tool bar to view your Favorites page
• Give your Favorites page a name, if you wish.
• Save your Favorites page by clicking on File and then Save As on your web browser. Choose to save the file as "Web page, HTML only".
• You can attach the saved HTML file to an email or include it in a web site.
• Citing online documents.

TECHNICAL HELP

This website is best viewed with Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. For further technical information, please contact us.