Boolean Searching
The Catalog of Nonprofit Literature lets you construct sophisticated searches using three Boolean operators:
/ (Boolean OR) broadens search results
& (Boolean AND) narrows search results
! (Boolan NOT) excludes specified words from search results
Using "/" (Boolean OR)
Use the OR operator to broaden a search.
Sample Search:
You would like to identify materials that provide information on how to
start a nonprofit organization, or nonprofit law.
Search Strategy:
Open the subject index. Beside Find in the dialog box, type "nonprofit organizations
establishment and termination", then click Go to. Paste this term
on the search form. Select and paste the term "laws regulating philanthropy on
the search form as well. Click the Close button to close the dialog box.
Click Submit Search to perform the search.
Note: Boolean OR (/) is the default operator that appears when you select more than one search
term from the index.
Using "&" (Boolean AND)
Use the AND operator to narrow search results to include more than one search term.
Sample Search:
You would like to identify materials that provide information on how to start a nonprofit organization,
as well as nonprofit law.
Search Strategy:
Open the subject index. Beside Find in the dialog box, type "nonprofit organizations
establishment and termination", then click Go to. Paste this term
on the search form. Select and paste the term "laws regulating philanthropy on
the search form as well. Click the Close button to close the dialog box.
Note: although Boolean OR (/) is the default operator that appears when you select more than one search term, you can
simply delete it and insert Boolean AND (&) to alter the search. In this example, replace / with & between
the terms in the Subject/descriptor search box to narrow the results.
Click Submit Search to perform the search.
Using "!" (Boolean NOT)
Use the NOT operator to narrow search results by excluding search terms.
Sample Search:
You would like to identify materials on performing arts, but not theater.
Search Strategy:
Open the subject index. Beside Find in the dialog box, type "performing arts", then
click Go to. Paste this term on the search form. Select and paste the term "theater" on
the search form as well. Click the Close button to close the dialog box.
Replace the default Boolean operator OR (/) with Boolean NOT (!) to exclude the term "theater" from
your search results.
Click Submit Search to perform the search.
|
