Getting Started: Searching

Begin exploring the digital library from the Search page, where you can select to search Content or Metadata Description.

Content Searching

Content searches allow you to search the content of text type archives that are in HTML, PDF, or TXT format. Your digital library must be configured to allow content searching. Only text documents are searched. Power search does not apply to content searches.

  1. To begin searching, select the Content search method.
  2. Type a Quick Search (Content and Metadata Searching) term in the search box.
  3. Click Search Digital Collections.
  4. Use the Augment option to improve search results.

Metadata Searching: Quick Search

Metadata Description searches allow you to search the descriptions of resources in the digital library. Both text and non-text resources are searched.

  1. To begin searching, select the Metadata Description search method.
  2. Type a Quick Search (Content and Metadata Searching) term in the search box.
  3. Click Search Digital Collections.

Metadata Searching: Power Search

  1. To begin searching, select the Metadata Description search method.
  2. Click Power Search or Complex Metadata Searching.
  3. In the Metadata Description box, type or select a type.
  4. In the Field to Search box, type or select an attribute. The values that display are based on the format associated with the type of resource selected in the Metadata Description selection.
  5. Type a Search Term in the text box.
  6. In the Operator field, type or select a boolean operator. Options are And, Not, and OR.
  7. Enter additional metadata descriptions, fields to search, search terms, and operators. Up to three rows of information can be included.
  8. Click Search Digital Collections.

Your search results may be a single resource or a list of resources. Search result options vary if you select Content searching instead of Metadata Description.

Contents