I Lost my iphoto library when backing up to my hard drive.

I thought I was backing up my iphoto library to my hard drive.  I dragged it off my dock and dropped it onto the external hard drive.  The cloud poof came up. I took it to the Mac store because I was having problems with my speakers. They said I needed to update my OS.  I installed Snow Leopard. Since then I have NOT been able to find part of my iphoto library.  I have everything through Aug 2012.  Everything since September forward is gone. I have tried everything, but cannot seem to find it. Any ideas?

Here is what I have tried so far...I found 'pictures'
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/
Then when I click on pictures this comes up...
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/
Then when I click on the iphoto folder these four options come up...
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/iPhoto.ipspot
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/AlbumData2.xml
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/AlbumData.xml
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Metadata%20Backup/
Then when I click on the 4th one, Matadata backup the following three options come up...
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Metadata%20Backup/Globals.i pmeta
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Metadata%20Backup/BackupSta tus.ipmeta
file:///Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Metadata%20Backup/Albums/
Then when I click on Albums the following comes up...
The following file could not be imported (The file is an unrecognized format)
/Users/suzannekelly/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Metadata Backup/Albums/Album.5562.ipmeta
I am currently using iPhoto 09.  Like I said, I have everything BEFORE September of 2012, and nothing since then.
Thanks,
SZKelly

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