Keyword Searches |
A Keyword search displays records with the word or phrase anywhere in the field you choose (author, title, subject). “Everything” searches the entire record. This differs from Browse searches, which require you to enter the beginning word or phrase.
For example, a Keyword search for wind displays both “Gone With The Wind” and “Wind in the Willows.” A Browse search for wind displays “Wind in the Willows” only. To perform a Keyword search:
|
Using Wild Cards (Symbol Truncation) |
Use wild cards in Keyword searches only.You can use the two wild cards described below to assist your searching:
? The question mark represents a single character. For example:
$ The dollar sign represents multiple characters at the end of a search term. For example:
|
Boolean Operators |
A Keyword search may produce a long hit list of items, many you may not want. To help alleviate this problem, you can refine your search by using Boolean operators and search qualifiers.The words AND, NOT, and OR, when placed between search terms, change the way the system conducts a search. You may combine Boolean operators in the same search.
AND
produces a hit list of records that have both “animals” and “australia.” NOT
produces a hit list that has the word “Elvis” but excludes records containing the word “Presley.” OR
NOTE: To include a boolean operator (and, not, or) in your search as a term rather than an operator enclose the word in quotes ” “. For example, the search “not” so big house will retrieve records with the word “not” and the words “so big house”.
|
Using Search Qualifiers |
A Keyword search may produce a long hit list of items, many you may not want. To help alleviate this problem, you can refine your search by using Boolean operators and search qualifiers.Search Qualifiers limit your search to specific fields. This speeds up response time and narrows the search to the more relevant records. The most commonly used qualifiers are as follows:
Here are two examples:su psychology NOT child: This search retrieves records on the subject psychology that do not contain the word child anywhere in the record. ti grapes AND au steinbeck: This search retrieves records with grapes in the title field and steinbeck in the author field. NOTE: When using search qualifiers you must perform the search using the “Everything” button. |