Notice: The multiple-database search of subscription databases is currently experiencing trouble returning results from some of the databases.
If you're looking for information from a particular database and you don't find it in the results, you might want to search that database directly. (12/3/2007)
What is this search?
This search box is part of the Library's "federated search," which allows you to search multiple State Library resources (e.g., our Web site, catalog and subscription databases) at the same time. You can use the default search (or one of the three choices in the pull-down menu on the home page--see the next question), or you can click on Advanced Search and select specific databases yourself.
Selected Journals and Databases Used in NYSL's "Plus Selected Journals and Databases" Search:
What do the choices in the pull-down list (Catalog and Web Site, Plus Selected Journals and Databases, and Catalog Only) on the home page mean?
The choices in the pull-down menu on the home page can be used to limit or expand the resources you are searching:
Only some of my search results show up at first. How do I get to the next page of results?
The heading at the top of the results for each database will indicate how many results were found and how many are displayed. If all results are not displayed (e.g., if the heading says something like "Results 1 to 20 of 54") you will see a "Next Set" button at the bottom of the list of results for that database. Click it to see the next batch of results.
Please note: To get to the "Next Set" or page of results, the drop-down menu for "Results display mode" must be set to "Grouped", which is the default setting". (The "Results display mode" box is located on the right side of the screen beneath the Print, Email, and Save Results options.)
Note on Library Web site search results:
In the NYSL Library Website search results, sometimes not all results will be
viewable as part of the numbered set that is returned. For example, it may indicate
that there are 56 Hits, yet only 39 are actually displayed in the numbered list.
This is because when the search results are very similar, the hits are grouped
together via a long "button" that reads: "More results from
www.somewebsite...." Click on that button to see the rest of that related
group of hits.
This happens because the Library site search uses a Google application for its search and Google will initially suppress results that appear to be very similar to those already displayed.
How can I tell what databases are included if I click on a subject like 'History' or 'Science'?
Once you click on a subject, scroll down to the A-Z "List of Resources." You will see the corresponding databases checked (or unchecked) in the list.
How do I search a specific database?
To search one or more specific databases, use the Advanced Search Page. (Click on "Advanced Search/More Databases.") The bottom section of that search page lists all the individual databases available for searching. Click on the "Clear" button to clear the form, including any databases already checked. Then check the box next to the databases you want to search, enter your search term(s), and click on "Go."
If you prefer to search a single database or vendor without using the federated search feature, you can still do that via the alphabetical or subject list on our Databases, Indexes and Reference Sources page.
How do I search for articles in a specific magazine?
Use the Advanced Search Page, which lets you enter multiple search terms. Change the pull-down list just before one of the search boxes from "Keyword" to "Journal Name" and enter the name of the magazine you want to search.
Can I do searches with truncation or wild cards?
The search engine works with the native search interface for each database it searches, so the answer depends on the database(s) searched. If a database's search engine does not allow truncation, or stemming, then the federated search will not allow it, either. If you are searching multiple databases, some of which do not allow truncation, truncation may not work. To maximize results, it might be best to use the Advanced Search Page and enter both -- or all -- forms of your keyword (e.g., singular and plural) as search options.
Wildcard searches do not seem to work with any databases, perhaps because even the databases that do allow wildcards can use different symbols as a wildcard.
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