Search tips

Searching specific fields

The single search box will search across many fields automatically. For example, entering an ISBN, ISSN, or Call Number will bring back associated records. The officially supported limit for searches is 300 characters.

You can explicitly search a field using the syntax: “field:(query).” For example, the search ISSN:(1234-5678), finds records that contain that value in the ISSN field.

Searchable fields:

Boolean operators

Search offers the following Boolean operations: AND, OR, and NOT. The operators must be written in ALL CAPS.

By default, all terms in a search are combined with the AND operator. To expand the results set, use the OR operator “microcircuits OR nanocircuits” will return items that contain either term.

To exclude items, use the NOT operator before a term. When used in the following query “animal NOT dog” the results will not include the term “dog”.

Wildcard use

Searches can be performed using the wildcards “?” and “*”.

The question mark (?) will match any one character and can be used to find “Olsen” or “Olson” by searching for “Ols?n”.

The asterisk (*) will match zero or more characters within a word or at the end of a word. A search for “Ch*ter” would match “Charter”, “Character”, and “Chapter”. When used at the end of a word, such as “Temp*”, it will match all suffixes “Temptation”, “Temple” and “Temporary”.

Wildcards cannot be used as the first character of a search, or within a phrase search.

Refine your results

You can refine the search results with different search filters and facets (such as content type, discipline, publication date, and more options) from the menu on the right.

For example, if you want to view "Full Text Online" or "Peer Reviewed articles", or see "Library Catalogue" materials only, click on that facet to limit and refine your search.

Request an item when full text is not available

More details about ordering documents may be found at How to access Federal Science Libraries Network materials.

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