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9.2. Advanced Search
Last Updated 05/15/2024
How to Perform an Advanced Search
From the OPAC
Advanced searching is available in the OPAC to allow users to perform more complex searches by providing more options. The available search options are the same as on the basic search. But you may use one or many of them simultaneously. Many kinds of searches can be performed from the Advanced Search screen. You can access it by clicking Advanced Search on the catalog Homepage or search results screen. If you want to combine more than three search options, use Add Search Row button to add more search input rows. Clicking the X button will close the search input row.
From the Staff Interface
Similar options are available from the staff interface, baked into the keyword search. You can access them from the catalog search by clicking on the three dot "More Options" icon to the right of the search bar (to pull up filters) and the plus sign icon to add additional fields.
The available search options are the same as on the basic search. But you may use one or many of them simultaneously.
Search Options
Sort Results
By default, the search results are in order of greatest to least relevance, see Order of Results. In the sort results menu you may select to order the search results by relevance, title, author, or publication date.
Search Library
In the OPAC, the current search library is displayed under the Library drop down menu. By default it is your library. The search returns results for your local library only. If your library system has multiple branches, use the Search Library box to select different branches or the whole library system.
In the staff interface, you can select the library from the drop down menu in the top right corner of the page.
Limit to Available
Select Limit to Available to limit results to those titles that have items with a circulation status of "available" (by default, either Available or Reshelving).
Exclude Electronic Resources
This checkbox is below Limit to Available. Select Exclude Electronic Resources to limit results to those bibliographic records that do not have an "o" or "s" in the Item Form fixed field (electronic forms) and overrides other form limiters.
Search Filters
You can filter your search by Item Type, Item Form, Language, Audience, Video Format, Bib Level, Literary Form, Shelving Location, Search Library, and Publication Year. Publication year is inclusive. For example, if you set Publication Year between 2005 and 2007, your results can include items published in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
For each filter type, you may select multiple criteria by holding down the CTRL key as you click on the options. If nothing is selected for a filter, the search will return results as though all options are selected.
Search Filter Enhancements
Enhancements to the Search Filters now make it easier to view, remove, and modify search filters while viewing search results in the Evergreen OPAC. Filters that are selected while conducting an advanced search in the Evergreen OPAC now appear below the search box in the search results interface.
For example, the screenshot below shows a Keyword search for "violin concerto" while filtering on Item Type: Musical sound recording and Shelving Location: Music.
In the search results, the Item Type and Shelving Location filters appear directly below the search box.
Each filter can be removed by clicking the X next to the filter name to modify the search within the search results screen. Below the search box on the search results screen, there is also a link to Refine My Original Search, which will bring the user back to the advanced search screen where the original search parameters selected can be viewed and modified.
Numeric Search
If you have details on the exact item you wish to search for, use the Numeric Search tab on the advanced search page. Use the drop-down menu to select your search by ISBN, ISSN, Bib Call Number, Call Number (Shelf Browse), LCCN, TCN, or Item Barcode. Enter the information and then click the Search button.
Expert Search
If you are familiar with MARC cataloging, you may search by MARC tag in the Expert Search option on the left of the screen. Enter the three-digit tag number, the subfield if relevant, and the value or text that corresponds to the tag. For example, to search by publisher name, enter 264 b Random House. To search several tags simultaneously, use the Add Row option.
Use the MARC Expert Search only as a last resort, as it can take much longer to retrieve results than by using indexed fields. For example, rather than running an expert search for "245 a Gone with the wind", simply do a regular title search for "Gone with the wind".