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Boston
Public Library
Internet Help - Search Tips

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Tips for using search engines
Most Internet search engines let you use some of the following to limit your searches. It can be very useful to check the "help" section of any search engine Web site for additional tips.
Plus and minus signs
Use the "+" (plus) sign if your search word MUST be present.
Example: If you are looking for the Dolphins football team, in the search box, type:
+dolphins +football
Use the "-" (minus) sign if you DO NOT want the word present.
Example: If you are looking for the animals, not the football team, in the search box, type:
+dolphins -football
Don't leave any spaces between the + or - and the word.
Example: +dolphins not + dolphins
Search terms - forms of entry, and the results you will get
boston public library
-will give you any hits that have either boston or public or library
somewhere on the Web site.
+boston +public +library
- will only give you hits that have boston AND public AND
library somewhere on the Web site.
"boston public library" (putting the words or phrase in quotation marks)
- will give you hits that only have the phrase - Boston public
library - somewhere on the Web site.
+boston -public +library
- will give you hits that have boston and library, excluding any
that ALSO have public.
Search Phrases
Use " " (quotation marks) to link terms together.
Example: "boston public library"
- will give you hits that have the complete phrase.
Boolean operators -- AND OR NOT
Boolean operators can be used to link, or exclude, terms. Boolean operators usually have to be in CAPITAL LETTERS. This lets the computer software know that these are linking terms, not part of the words you are looking for.
Including a larger group in the search
cat OR feline OR lion
-will give you hits that have either cat or feline or lion somewhere on the Web site.
Making a smaller group
boston AND public AND library
- will give you hits that have boston AND public AND
library somewhere on the Web site.
Searching for groups within groups (nesting sets)
(boston AND public AND library)
- will give you hits that only have the phrase boston public
library somewhere on the Web site
(boston AND library) NOT public
- will give you hits that have boston and library, excluding any
that ALSO have public.
Word order in searches
library AND public AND boston
gives the same results as
public AND boston AND library
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