Here's a summary of the search paths available in this collection. You will find links to each type of search on the search path bar.
| Search Type | Description | Offers Optional Ways to Limit Your Search (if enabled by your library)? | Displays Subject Guide Sidebar on Results page? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Search using the Subject option | Searches for documents about a particular topic. This search is especially useful as you begin your research. | Yes | Yes |
| Basic Search using the Keyword option | Searches key fields, including titles, introductory text, authors, and subject terms. This option searches a broader range of fields than a search by Subject. | Yes | Yes |
| Basic Search using the Entire doucment option | Searches the entire text of all documents in the database(s) you are searching, as well as in the fields of information included in the Keyword search. This is a good search to use if you are looking for a particular line of text or an unusual phrase. | Yes | Yes |
| Subject Guide Search | Browses a hierarchical list of subject terms (known as the Subject Guide), allowing you to select topics, subdivisions, and related subjects. | Yes | Yes |
| Publication Search | Searches for periodical titles, showing information about each publication and allowing you to drill-down to select a specific volume or issue. | Yes | No |
| Advanced Search | Allows you to build as simple or as complex a search expression as you want by selecting specific areas of the database to search, known as indexes. You can even build new searches based on previous searches. | Yes | May be displayed when searching certain indexes |
| CCL Advanced Search | Offers an alternate way to build an Advanced Search expression by selecting an index from a drop-down menu or by typing one or more index abbreviations. Logical operators may be used. You can even build new searches based on previous searches. | Yes | No |
In addition you can search for dictionary definitions of words or terms using the Dictionary link from the toolbar.
At the top of every search page you'll find a message line showing how many database(s) you are currently searching, along with the total number of documents searched and the most recent update date. Clicking the number link in the Currently Searching nn Database(s) line will take you to the Database Menu, where you can view which databases have been selected for cross-searching.