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 below will retrieve the same results.

• world health organization
• world and health and organization

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.

• "world health organization"

Wildcards

Words may be right-hand truncated using an asterisk. Use a single asterisk * to truncate from 1-5 characters. Use a double asterisk ** for open-ended truncation.

You may also use a question mark ('?') to replace a single character anywhere within a word.

• environment*
• polic*
• inter**
• wom?n

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. Parentheses group words together when using Boolean operators.

• stocks and bonds (indian or pacific) and (ocean life and not mammals)

Titles Beginning with Articles
(A, An, The, El, Los, Un, etc.)

The online catalog ignores initial articles in titles. However, if you search for a title that begins with an article, it will still be found.

• The New Yorker will be found if you enter The New Yorker or New Yorker
• El código da Vinci will be found if you enter El código da Vinci or código da Vinci

If the title of the item begins with a word that is usually considered an article, you must type the initial article twice when searching.

• Un Lun Dun can be found by entering Un Un Lun Dun
• A to Z of Women in World History can be by entering A A to Z of Women in World History

Proximity Operators

The NEAR operator is used to retrieve records that contain the specified words or phrases within ten words of each other in the same indexed field.

The WITHIN operator is similar to the NEAR operator, but allows the user to specify the maximum number of words that may appear between the specified words. WITHIN 10 and NEAR are equivalent.

• international near conference
• fractal within 3 geometry

Field limits

Field limits may be specified by selecting a field limit from the selection list in the form above. 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). The following field limits are supported:

• Author (a): Search only author fields
• Title (t): Search only title fields
• Subject (d): Search only subject fields
• Note (n): Search only note fields

Examples of searches using Field Limits:

• (a:twain) and (t:huck**)
• (a:united and a:states) and (d:handicapped or d:disabled)

Searching for Spanish Language Materials

Searching for materials written in Spanish originally:

• Use the search box on the catalog homepage, and select "Materiales en Español" from the drop-down to the right of the search box.

Searching for materials translated to Spanish:

• Use the search box on the catalog homepage, with "View entire collection" selected in the drop-down menue to the right of the search box.
• Once your result list is displayed, click the "Modify Search" button above the list.
• Select "Spanish" in the languages list.