QUESTIONS?

If you need help or have a question, please email us! We hope that the information below will also be of assistance.

Help Topics

SEARCHING

Keyword Search

Type the word or words that you want to find.

Examples:

polymers

inorganic chemistry

When searching multiple words, the system automatically supplies 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.

For example, both of these queries will retrieve the same results:

Phrase Searches

Search for a complete phrase by enclosing it in quotation marks. Words enclosed in quotation marks will appear in search results exactly as typed.

Example: "American Chemical Society"


Boolean Operators

Use AND or OR to specify multiple words in any field, any order. Use AND NOT to exclude words.

Examples:

chemical and handbook

polymer or plastic

chemical and not chemistry


Wildcards

*   The wildcard (*) matches up to five non-space characters, starting at the specified position in the word. For example, comput* will match all words that begin with "comput," including "computer," "computation," etc.
The wildcard may also be used within a word to match up to five non-space characters. For example, colo*r will match "color" and "colour."

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

Examples:

environment* polic*

comp*

wom?n


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:

  • Author: Searches only author fields
  • Title: Searches only title fields
  • Subject: Searches only subject fields
  • Note: Searches only note fields
  • Subject: Searches only subject fields


Grouping

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.

Most relevant Most relevant titles 

Highly relevant Highly relevant titles 

Very relevant Very relevant titles 

Relevant Relevant titles 

Other relevant Other relevant titles 

Back to top

SAVING YOUR SEARCHES

If you have a favorite author or subject for which you often search, you can save the search. This will allow you to re-run the search to find new materials as they are added to the collection.

To save a search:

  1. Select Login (on the navigation bar above) to sign into your account. If you need the last 5 digits of your barcode, send us an email.
  2. After you've logged in, select New Search or Advanced Search on the navigation bar.
  3. Create and run your search.
  4. When your results are displayed, select Save as preferred search.
  5. The next time that you log in to your account, you can click Preferred Searches to see your saved searches.
  6. To run a saved search, click on Search to the right of the search's title.
  7. To be alerted when we get new materials that match your search criteria, select the Mark for Email box to the right of the search title. Be sure that your account information includes your current email address.

Back to top

RENEWALS

Library cardholders can renew their own materials online. All material may be renewed except for items that are overdue, or are on reserve to another user.

To renew an item:

  1. Select Login (on the navigation bar above) to sign into your account. If you need the last 5 digits of your barcode, send us an email.
  2. If not the default view click the Items currently checked out link to view the materials you have checked out.
  3. Select the materials you want to renew by checking the boxes in the Renew column, then click Renew Selected. If you want to renew everything, click Renew All.
  4. A new due date will appear in the Status column. Always check the Status column for information on the success or failure of your renewal. If you weren't permitted to renew an item, a message will appear on the screen.

Back to top

MY LISTS

Library cardholders can use My Lists to create groups of materials. Lists can be named and saved for future use. You may create multiple lists. To create a list, select Login (on the navigation bar above) to sign into your account. If you need the last 5 digits of your barcode, send us an email.

Back to top