To access any of the library's newspaper databases you must have a valid BCPL library card and you must know your library PIN/password since you will be prompted to log into your library account before you can access the newspaper databases. The newspaper database includes the following current and historic newspapers:
Historic:
- The Baltimore Sun (1837 to 1999)
- The Baltimore Afro-American (1893 - 2010)
Current:
- The Baltimore Sun (1990 to present)
Follow the steps below to search the database(s).
- Go to the library's home page at (www.bcpl.info) and select Books & More.
- Select Research Databases, scroll down the page and select ProQuest: Current and Historic Newspapers.
- You will be prompted to log into your library account. Enter your library card number and PIN/password.
- You should be passed through to the ProQuest Newspaper database.
- The database defaults to searching all the newspapers contained within it. However, unless you are searching for very unusual keywords or names and/or you have no idea what time period the subject matter you are searching for may have occurred, it's best to start by searching one database at a time.
- To search one database, click on the 'Change Databases' tab, as shown in the image below.
- Click on the title you want to search from the list of databases, as shown in the Select Databases image below. Enter your search term(s) in the Search field and press the enter on your keyboard or click the search button (magnifying glass icon).
Search more than one newspaper at the same time:
- Click in the 'Select All' box which will uncheck (deselect) all databases.
- Now select (checkmark) each of the newspaper databases you want to search.
- Enter your search term(s) in the Search field and press the enter key on your keyboard or click the search button (magnifying glass icon).
- If you get no results or too many results, try selecting the 'Advanced Search' tab.
- On the Advanced Search page, limit your search by adding a publication date or date range, and/or a document type such as Obituaries, Birth Notices, Marriage Announcements, or Articles, as shown below.
Find and Search a specific issue in one newspaper:
For example, to find and search just one issue of The Baltimore Afro-American (1893 - 2010) or to see all the articles in one issue of that newspaper, follow the steps below.
- Click on ProQuest (in the upper left corner) to get back to the home page.
- Click on the 'Change Databases' tab.
- Select one database title from the list
- Select the 'Publications' tab
- Select the link to that publication as shown below
- Limit to one issue by selecting a decade, a year, a month and a date from the drop down menus as shown below
- Click on an article from the list or enter your search terms in the 'Search within this publication' box.
