Search content
It’s easy to search the Posen Digital Library once you’ve registered. Start by clicking the “search” tab on the upper left-hand side of the homepage. Enter your search term(s) into the empty bar beneath the words “advanced search.” Then hit return, or click the blue “search” button to the right of the screen. Your results should populate quickly. Once you’re ready for a new search, simply click “search” again and enter another term.
Browse content
You can explore The Posen Library through different genres, topics, and time periods. Click the ÉC;Browse” tab on the homepage and select the genre or topic that interests you within the “Subjects” subheading on the left-hand side, or the chronological period from the ÉC;Timeline” subheading.
You can also browse from the home page, by clicking a genre below the image carousel.
View documents
Once you select a document, you can expand it, shrink it, bookmark it, or highlight a word or paragraph using the toolbar—the row of icons above, and to the right of, the document. To enlarge the text, click the larger “a” in the toolbar. The small “a” will shrink the text. The other items in the toolbar perform the other functions: tagging, bookmarking, and annotating. To bookmark a passage, first highlight it, then click the “bookmark” icon in the toolbar. Tagging and annotating work the same way: Highlight a passage, click the appropriate icon, then follow the instructions. (Your tags and annotations will appear in your “My Library” page. To edit an annotation or delete a tag, click “my annotations” or “my tags” and click the appropriate word: edit, delete, etc. NB: once an annotation has been made public, it cannot be changed, so annotate wisely.)
The “I” icon provides information about the document being viewed, including what other users think about it.
If you’re not sure what an icon does, drag your browser over it and wait a moment; a function will appear.
Print, save, and share documents
Just click the ellipsis (above the document, across from the toolbar) to activate the print, save, and share functions. Clicking “share” will cause the document’s URL to appear. You can then copy it and forward it to a friend. You can also save a document when you search for it: just check the box to the left of the document’s title, then click “save.” Saved documents will appear in your “My Library.”
When you’re done printing, saving, or sharing, click the ellipsis again.
Using “My Library”
“My Library” is where you manage your personal library. Click the “My Library” tab on the homepage. You will see a list of recently viewed documents, and personal folders. All of your saved documents, tags, and annotations, as well as private groups, should appear here as well.
Create a profile
Your profile includes your name; email; school, college, university, or other affiliation; and address, as well as the private groups to which you’ve subscribed. To view your profile, click the “My Library” tab, then click “my profile” on the left-hand side of the page. To make changes to your profile, click the “My Library” tab, then click “manage profile.” After you’re finished, click “Save and View Profile” at the bottom of the page.
While your profile cannot be accessed by the general public, other members of private groups you create or join will be able to see this information (excepting your email address if you choose make this private in your account settings).
Tips on Using the PDL
Coming soon.
