Northwest Postcard database About this web site and the legalese: Conditions of Use | Copyright | Linking to this database | Requirements Search the Postcard collection

About

The Tacoma Public Library (TPL) has an extensive collection of postcards. Postcards have been a popular, inexpensive way to record visits, promote cities and attractions, and keep in touch since the Postal Service changed regulations to allow images on one side of what had been known as postal cards. Many postcards have survived to become a significant visual record. The library has maintained a collection of regional postcards as an important source of the history of this area.

Northwest Room staff Jody Gripp and Jeanie Fisher decided that it was high time to digitize this collection, and with boundless enthusiasm and not a little naivete approached Lare Mischo, master database builder and Manager of Automated Systems for TPL, to make this happen. This database is a result of this collaboration of the two eager but inexperienced amateur archivists, and the much needed reality check, experience and knowledge of TPL’s actual archivist.

Although the labor for this project was supplied by Lare, Jody and Jeanie; it would not have been possible without the support of Brian Kamens and Bob Schuler—who covered the public service desk to allow Jody and Jeanie time to enter data. The resulting database is yet another example of the commitment of the Tacoma Public Library to the promotion and preservation of Tacoma’s rich history. Additionally we would like to thank Faye Bloom, who took time out of her busy day to give us a thorough lesson in applying subject headings.

Kyle Smith, CEO and founder of The Smith-Western Company, and Kurt Andres, Manager of the Graphic Arts Department for the City of Tacoma, have graciously given their permission for images currently protected by copyright to be displayed on our website. Their willingness to allow us to use their images greatly increases the timeframe of the images we can display—and we thank them for their dedication to preserving this region’s history, and their kind support with helping us achieve our goal of providing public access to this wonderful collection.

Copyright

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or any other reproductions of copyrighted materials.

Tacoma Public Library is not responsible for the improper or illegal use of any copies of materials from its collections. It is the user's responsibility to guard against the infringement of rights that may be held by others and for clearing reproduction rights and copyright restrictions. Tacoma Public Library does not claim to control the copyright for all pictorial and textual materials in its collections. Library staff will provide any information available for specific items that it has available to the user in this regard if a specific request is made. The Library provides such information as a service to aid customers in determining the appropriate use of an item, but that determination ultimately rests with the customer. It is the customer's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials from the Library's collections. Customerss are reminded that these materials are provided by the Tacoma Public Library for non-profit educational, personal or scholarly purposes and that transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright holders.

Issues pertaining to privacy and publicity may arise when a researcher contemplates the use of materials found in library collections. Because two or more people are often involved (photographer and subject) and because of the ease with which images can be reused, photographs represent a type of document in which issues of privacy and publicity emerge with some frequency. Privacy and publicity rights are, of course, distinct from copyright. In addition, while it is true that famous people or public figures who seek recognition have already surrendered some privacy, they may have the right to control the commercial use of their images (likeness, voice, signature, etc.). This principal recognizes that a celebrity's image can be an asset in trade. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions, and paying any associated fees, which may be necessary for the proposed use.

The Tacoma Public Library is eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future. It is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in an appropriate manner under such Act and other applicable intellectual property laws, including the removal or disabling or access to material claimed to be subject of infringing activity. Pursuant to 17 United States Code 512(c)(2) (Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998), the Tacoma Public Library is the designated agent for notice of alleged copyright infringement appearing on our Site. Direct any notices of infringement to: