Library Catalog and Search Strategies


Diving into the electronic databases we have available at the library, our the U of I library catalog main catalog is an excellent place to begin your search! In the search box, simply type in your keyword search terms to begin.

Accessing the catalog through the main library site, lib.uidaho.edu

For instance, if your topic is Low-fat vs. whole milk consumption, you can use “Low-fat” AND “whole milk” AND consumption as your keyword search terms. The quotations and capitalized AND in this search are examples of what are called boolean operators, a “logical combinatorial system that represents symbolic relationships between entities” per Merriam-Webster. More simply, it’s a way to refine what you are and are not looking for in a single search.

The most basic elements are using AND, OR and NOT between keywords or putting quotes around your phrases to use an exact phrase and parenthesis when using multiple operators in the same line. Helpful Google (and Google Scholar) operators include site: (as well as -site) to include or exclude results from specific sites and AROUND(#) to produce results where your two keywords on either side are within a certain number of words with each other.

Learn more about Boolean Operators with this MIT guide


Summit vs. only UIdaho collections


Summit

In the dropdown menu next to the magnifying glass icon in the search box, choose UI Library+E-Resources if you are only interested in resources that can be found in the U of I Library and online. Otherwise, choose UI+Summit+E-Resources to access resources in 37 academic libraries throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho, keeping in mind that the delivery of these physical items from this network usually takes between a week and two weeks.

Filter panel on the U of I Library catalog


Refine Results


You can filter to refine results many different ways, including Full Text Online, if you only want materials you read and download in their entirety, Resource Type to view peer reviewed or non-peer reviewed material, a publication date slider to filter chronologically and Subject Filter which uses the Library of Congress Subject Heading schema, which filters your search results by topic. You can learn more about here!

Screen capture demonstration of how you navigate from an item level document in the library catalog to the periodical page and finally to the downloadable PDF.
Screen capture demonstration of how you navigate from an item level document in the library catalog to the periodical page and finally to the downloadable PDF.

If you are looking for Full Text Online results, you may be sent to many of the different online periodicals that we subscribe to as a library. You will need to be logged in as a student and then look for View Online, where you will be sent to the online journal.

Screen capture of item level digital interface of the library catalog.
Select View Online within the Library Catalog to be directed to one of our many databases to download materials

Though presentation may vary depending on the site, look for the red and white PDF icon that should send you to the download page.


Search History


If you were previously able to find something you are currently having trouble recovering, as long as you are logged in, all of your searches are saved.

Screen capture of dropdown after selecting your profile name on the top right of the catalog interface..
Dropdown after selecting your profile name on the top right of the catalog

To review, select your name in the top right corner of the catalog interface and select saved searches from the dropdown, where your results will be displayed chronologically from newest to oldest. The description of each search includes both the text as well as filters and attributes used.

Screen capture of search history along with the filters and attributes you used, sorted chronologically from newest to oldest.
Search history along with the filters and attributes you used, sorted chronologically from newest to oldest.