Search Help
Keyword Searching
Type the keyword you want to find. For example:
- design
- bleachers grisham
Search Tips
| Wildcards |
Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk ('*') in place of other characters. The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string. You may use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word. Examples : environment* polic*, wom?n |
|---|---|
| Boolean Operators |
Use "and" or "or" to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use "and not" to exclude words. Example : stocks and bonds Example : (alaska or canada) and (adventure and not vacation) |
| Field limits |
A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s). |
| Grouping | Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query. |
Advanced Keyword Search Tips
Multiple Words
When searching multiple words the system will automatically supply the Boolean "and" operator between each word; multiple words entered for the search will all occur somewhere in the retrieved records though not necessarily in the order entered. Both examples on the right will retrieve the same results.
Examples
Using multiple words:
university science department
university and science and department
Phrase Searches
Search for complete phrases by enclosing them in quotation marks. Words enclosed in double quotes will appear together in all results exactly as typed.
Examples
A phrase Search:
"university science department"
Wildcards
* Matches any number of non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, "comput*" will match all words that begin with "comput" (e.g., "computer", "computation", etc.).
The '*' wildcard may also be embedded in a search string.
? You may use a question mark ('?') to replace a single character anywhere within a word.
Boolean Operators
Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words. Select the operator you wish to use from the selection list on the Advanced Search form.
Examples
Using Boolean operators:
stocks and bonds
stocks or bonds
stocks and not bonds
Field Limits
Field limits may be specified by selecting a field limit from the selection list. These limits appear before the word or phrase to be searched. A field limit causes the system to search only the specified field for the specified word(s).
Field Limits and their meanings:
- Author: Search only author fields
- Title: Search only title fields
- Subject: Search only subject fields
- Note: Search only note fields
Grouping
Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. Each group represents a similar level of relevance and results are sorted within the group by date or title. To get an ungrouped result set, use boolean operators to form a complex query.
Most relevant titles
Highly relevant titles
Very relevant titles
Relevant titles
Other relevant titles
Saving your searches
If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search when using the catalog, you can save the search with the click of a button.
How to:
- Log in to your account.
- Click Classic Catalog to start a new search.
- Search for your favorite author, subject, title, etc. or create an advanced keyword search including limits to material type, language, publication year, etc.
- When your results are displayed, click the button marked Save as My Preferred Search.
- The next time that you log in to your account, you can click the Preferred Searches link to see a list of your saved searches.
- Click the Search link on the line with your preferred search terms to execute that search.
- You can be alerted to new materials added to the library collection that match your Preferred Searches. Check the "Mark for Email" box and cick Update List. Be sure that your patron record information includes your current email address.