Scopes
Scopes are sub sets of the library's collection that can can be searched seperately. For example if you want to search the Othmer LIbray's rare book collection only simply select this option from the drop down menu and your search is narrowed to that section of the collection only.
The library has the following Scopes:
This is what the scope drop down menu looks like:
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. This will
prevent you from having to key in the search each time and let you place reserves on new materials quicker.
How to:
Basic Searching
The default search in the opac is a keyword search. Simply type in your keywords and hit the submit search to search the entire collection.
For example:
Search tips
Wild Cards
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 also use '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word.
For example:
Boolean Operators
Use "and" or "or" to specify multiple words in any field in any any order. Use "and not" to exclude words.
For example:
To change the type of search you would like to do simply select a new option from the first drop down menu.
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.
For example:
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.
For example:
"American Chemical Society"
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.
For example:
* Wildcard:
? Wildcard:
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.
For example:
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:
Groupings
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.