When your search results appear, you can narrow your search by selecting results that fit into very specific categories -- just click a link under the Refine My Results section to get started.   Categories generally include topic, author, date, format, genre, and library. This is a quick way to find very specific results for your search without having to start your search again.

 

 

Use the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOTwhen you want to link more than one search word together -- or exclude certain words from your search.

 

Note: You must use uppercase letters for Boolean operators.

 

For example:

 

• Cat AND dog -- finds items that include both the words "cat" and "dog"

 

• Cat OR dog -- finds items that include either the word "cat" or "dog"

 

• Drug AND abuse AND (treatment OR recovery) -- finds records that include both the words "drug" and "abuse," and either "treatment" or "recovery"

 

Note: If you enter multiple search terms but don't add a Boolean operator, the system will use the "AND" operator to find records that include all of the search terms you've entered.

 

 

If you are searching for a word that can be spelled different ways (or if you aren't sure of the spelling) you can "truncate" (shorten) your search term so the system knows to look for multiple version of the word.

 

For example:

 

  Use a question mark ? for a single-character replacement.

 

• wom?n -- finds items that include the word woman or women

 

  Use an asterisk * for a multiple-character replacement.

 

• libr*      -- finds items that include words like library, libraries, librarians, etc.

• expen* -- finds items that include words like expense, expensive, expenditure, etc.

 

 

Add quotes around multiple search terms to find results that include a specific phrase. The results will only show items that include the whole phrase.

 

For example:

 

• "feast or famine"

• "the grapes of wrath"

• "genetic engineering"

 

 

In addition to searching your own local college library, you can also search for items in other libraries.

 

Just select "All Florida Community Colleges" in the drop-down box on the Books & More search. Once you've found an item you want to check out, you can request that the item be sent to your local library for pick up.