Creating Search Statements
(Boolean Searching)

Electronic databases such as library catalogues, journal indexes and www search engines can be searched using a form of logic known as Boolean Logic.

Boolean Logic allows keywords to be combined in a search in different ways, using Operators.

Through the use of Boolean Operators it is possible to combine terms in a logical manner and to broaden or limit the scope of a search. The main Operators are:

and

The operator and will give you items that contain both the keywords used. For example:

Mozart and Symphony

will give only those items that contain both these terms.

Please note that the KEYWORD search on the Library Catalogue does not automatically uses the 'and' operator. Therefore if you type in 'Mozart symphony' it will search this as a phrase.

The operator or will give you items that contain either of the keywords used. For example:

Mozart or symphony

will yield all items that contain either of these terms.

not

The operator not will give you items that contain the first keyword, but not the second. For example:

Mozart not symphony

will yield only those items containing 'Mozart' but not 'Symphony'.

It can sometimes be useful to screen out sound recordings by adding 'not recording' to a search.

You may like to try these keyword searches on the library catalogue and compare the number of items you find with each search, or visit the online guide to Boolean operators on the University Library homepage.

Creating Search Statements (Boolean Searching)

Creating Search Statements
(Boolean Searching)