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Boston Public Library
Internet Help - Search Tips


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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