CATALOG SEARCH TIPS

These suggestions will help you find what you're looking for in the library's catalog, which you will find in the search bar above. If you want to search the website, do so with the bar to the right.

Please ask at the Reference Desk if you need help. Call or email the desk at 309-828-6093 and reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.

GENERAL HINTS

Spelling counts! A typo will not give you the result you want, so check for correct spelling.

Author & Title Search

Use the author's last name and one keyword from the title. Leave the Search key at the right set to All Fields.

Example: type help and stockett to find the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Type daughter and mahmoody if looking for the book Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody.

Title Search

Use one or two keywords from the title instead of the whole title. Set the Search key at the right to Title.

Example: type without and daughter to find the book Not Without My Daughter.

Author Search

Type the person's first and last name (it doesn't matter which is first) and change the Search Key at the right to Author.

Abbreviations

Try both the abbreviation and a second search with the full word spelled out.

Example: Type WWII, then a second search with World War II (Note 'II' after World War are the letter i, not the number 1 or the letter L.)

SEARCHING WITH COMMON WORDS

Change the Search key at the right of the search field to Title, Author, Subject, or one of the Keyword options for a more specific search.

When searching for something that includes common words such as dogs or Smith or Lincoln, using more words is best.

Example: type dog training, not just the word dogs. Type Mary Lincoln or Mary Todd Lincoln, not just Lincoln.

Try the plural of a word and also the singular. You'll get different results.

Example: use children then a second search with child.

SEARCHING WITH UNCOMMON WORDS

When searching for something with uncommon words, leave the Search key at the right set to All Fields.

When searching for something with uncommon words such as Italian cooking or Roman architecture or Facebook, using fewer words in your search is best.