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Keyword Search
Definition

A Keyword search looks for words anywhere in the record. Keyword searches are a good substitute for a subject search when you do not know the authorized subject heading form. Keyword may also be used as a substitute for a title or author search when you have incomplete title or author information. You may also use the Guided Keyword search option to combine search elements, group terms, or select indexes or fields to be searched.


Search Strategies

To search by keyword, select Keyword from the search options and type the word(s) you wish to search. Keyword searches can retrieve a large number of results. Several options are available to help refine your search and results.

Quick Limits can be used when doing a keyword search.

Pre-set Limits can be selected before doing a keyword search.

Using the Boolean Operators AND, OR, NOT:

AND: The operator and narrows the search by instructing CLIO to show only records containing both words.  If you do not insert and between your search terms, it will be inserted automatically by CLIO.

BulletExample:  renaissance italy is searched as renaissance AND italy

However, if Javascript is disabled on your computer, you will need to insert and between search terms.

OR: The operator or broadens the search to include records containing either keyword, or both.

BulletExample publishing or writing

NOT: The operator not narrows the search by excluding unwanted words.

BulletExample:  architecture not landscape

To search exact phrases, enclose the phrase in quotes

Examples:
BulletSearch:  "artificial intelligence"
BulletSearch: "global warming"

To group terms together, place them in parentheses.

Examples:
BulletSearch:  (residence or home or housing) and (elderly or aged)

You may also use the Guided Keyword Search option to group search terms.

To find a term with variant endings, search the partial word followed by a questions mark(?)

Examples:
BulletSearch:  child?
BulletFinds: child, children, childhood, etc.
BulletSearch: manag?
BulletFinds: manage, manager, management

To restrict a search to a specific index or field in the catalog record, use field codes (see list below).

Examples:
BulletSearch:  nkey shakespeare and tkey hamlet
BulletFinds: records with shakespeare in the author field and hamlet in the title field

 
Field Codes
To search for a keyword in the:
Use:
Keyword Anywhere gkey
Author name keyword nkey
Title keyword tkey
Subject heading keyword skey
Journal title keyword jkey
Music opus or thematic index number opus
Publisher number (music score, sound, video) npub
Place (city) of publication pubp
Publisher name keyword publ
Series title keyword seri
Contents note keyword note
ISBN international standard book number isbn
ISSN international standard serial number issn

For more field codes, click here.


Alternative Search Options

Try using the Guided Keyword search option.


If you would like further assistance, Ask a Librarian for help.

 


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