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Simple Search

• Which search type to use
• How to search using the Simple Search screen
• Punctuation and searchable characters

How to search using the Simple Search screen

1. Type your search into the Search For box (how you enter your search will depend on the type of search you wish to use).
2. Choose the type of search from the Using drop-down menu.
3. Optional: You may limit your search by selecting a limit, such as year, from the Quick Limits drop-down menu.
   1. For more limits, or if you wish to add more than one limit, click the Limits button before you enter your search.
   2. It is also possible to add Quick Limits or click the Limit Results button after you have performed your search.
4. Optional: Select the number of records you wish to see on each page by choosing from the records per page drop-down menu (the default is 25).
5. Click Search to do your search. Your search will result in a Titles List or Headings List, depending on which search type you used.

Points to note:

• The default search type is Keyword Relevance. If you choose another search type this becomes the default for your next search in the session.
• To quickly select from a drop-down menu, highlight the box then enter the first letter of the word required. (If two options begin with the same letter, you may need to type the letter again to get the word you want).

Punctuation and searchable characters

Punctuation is consistent across all search types. For most searches it makes no difference whether you type in punctuation or not. However, note the following:

• Hyphenated words should be searched for as phrase either with or without the hyphen.
  • Example: The ISSN 0028-8535 may be searched for as 0028-8535 or 0028 8535

• When searching for Library of Congress Subject Headings in Subject Heading Search, you must omit the double dashes.
  • Example: Art, Maori—history may be searched for as art maori history

• Punctuation is important in a Call Number Search. See Call Number help.

Note the following searchable characters:

• The plus sign (+) is a searchable character.
  • Example: A Subject (Browse) search for c++ computer program will take you directly to the heading c++ (computer program)

• The ampersand (&) is a searchable character. However, it will only work if there is an ampersand in the record; in most cases it is better to type the word 'and' in full.

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