Basic Concepts Keyword anywhere Title Subject Author ISSN/ISBN Publisher Series
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Combining Terms When using the Guided Search screen, there are various means for combining terms.
Between each search line, you are able to select the following commands: AND - used to combine different concepts together, e.g. schools AND violence. Requires all terms be present in the same citation. Reduces the number of results you retrieve. OR - used to connect synonymous terms together, e.g. marijuana OR cannabis. Requires either term be present in a citation. Increases the number of results you retrieve. NOT - used to exclude a term from your search. For example, the search dolphins NOT football will find information on the marine species not the NFL football team.
Within a search line, you have the following options: all of these - is the same as an AND search. Requires all terms on a search line be found in the same citation. any of these - is the same as an OR search. Requires any of the terms on a search line be found in a citation. as a phrase - requires all terms on a search line be found in the exact order as entered. This is useful when searching on known phrases (right to die, genetic engineering, gun control, etc.)
Truncation To accommodate terms with multiple endings, e.g. boat, boats, boating, you can use the truncation symbol, ?, in any search. This option is also useful if you are unsure how to spell an author's name, e.g. mitchel?. Truncation only works if you select the search options "all of these" or "any of these".
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Keyword anywhere |
Use to search on a
topic when you don't know a Library of Congress Subject Heading.
When searching on more than one concept, enter your concepts in separate search lines, one term per line. Next, select "all of these" and AND as search options.
When searching on synonymous terms (terms that mean the same thing) for a concept, list the synonyms on separate search lines. Next, select "all of these" and OR as search options.
When searching on multiple concepts, when one or more of the concepts has synonymous terms, enter the concepts on separate search lines and the synonymous terms for a concept on the same search line. Next select the "any of these" and AND as search options
If you want to search on a phrase, make sure to select "as a phrase" as a search option directly to the right of the search window.
Finally, if you one of your concepts has various word endings, use the question mark truncation symbol: ? to search on all these variations. For example the search canoe? will find items containing the word canoe, canoes, or canoeing.
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Exclude a,
an, or the from beginning of title, including foreign language
equivalents (l', le, la, el, der, etc.). Select “as
a phrase” as your
search option, directly to the right of the search window. Below is
an example of how to search for Ernest Hemingway's book, "The Old Man
and the Sea."
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You must use a recognized Library of Congress Subject Heading. If unsure of an appropriate heading, consult the Library of Congress Subject Heading Guides in the library or ask for help at the reference desk. When searching on a subject heading, select “as a phrase” as your search option, directly to the right of each search window. Below is an example of how to search for the subject heading, Educational Vouchers:
To search on a particular subheading, enter the main heading on one line and each subheading on subsequent search lines. Also, select “as a phrase” as your search option, directly to the right of each search window. For example, to search on the subject heading, Educational vouchers--United States enter it as follows:
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| Author | For person as author, enter last name first name and select “as
a phrase” as your search option, directly to the right of the search
window.
If you only know the last name of an author, you will have more success if you combine the name with one or more words from a title of that author's work. NOTE: if you use title words in no particular order, make sure to select "all of these" as your search option, directly to the right of the search window.
For corporation or organization as author, enter complete name as it normally appears.
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| ISSN/ ISBN |
For an ISSN search, enter the number with the hyphen and select “as a phrase” as your search option, directly to the right of the search window.
For an ISBN search, enter the number without hyphens or spaces, and select “as
a phrase” as your
search option, directly to the right of the search window. |
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| Publisher | For a publisher search, enter the name and
select "as a phrase" as your
search option, directly to the right of the search window.
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| Series | Sometimes individual items (book, video, etc.)
are published as part of a series. Although each item will have its
own title, there will also be an associated series title. Use the
series Search in option when you want to find all the items in a particular
series. Enter the series title (excluding a,
an, or the from beginning) and select “as a phrase” as your
search option, directly to the right of the search window.
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