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Info

This information has been moved to https://support.goalexandria.com/researcher/search/

display-page-title
; these

that can be

easily

changed using the Search Type drop-down menu

located

in the upper-left of the

Search pane

search bar. For example, you can choose to search using Smart Search (default), Authors, Awards, Bibliographic, Call Number, Curriculum, Notes, Series, Subject, and Titles. During a search, Alexandria examines MARC information stored in each title record; for example, when you choose to search using Authors, Alexandria searches for authors in the 100 and 700 tags.

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Search Pane

To begin, enter Enter a search query by typing a few descriptive keywords (single words or phrases) in the Search field; as you type. When you stop typing, Alexandria will start returning the most relevant results immediately. If you continue typing, Alexandria will keep refining the results; to . To broaden or restrict the search, include more or fewer terms. Patrons will typically use the Smart Search (default) search type to locate information in your collection(s). However, you can also search by Authors, Awards, Bibliographic, Call Number, Curriculum, Notes, Series, Subjects, and Titles; information on additional search types is shown below.

Alternately, for those who can't read or write fluently and find text-based searches difficult (or impossible) to use, click one of the large, graphic elements in the Explore pane to perform a search; for more information on using the Explore pane, see below.

Image RemovedThe Search pane is primarily used to enter search queries by typing keywords into the Search field. When the Search field is not empty, a Clear Search icon will appear to the right of the field; clicking this icon will clear your search terms and also any filters that may have been applied, including your current Results List—leaving you with a blank slate for a new search.


Search Type

The drop-down menus and icons that cross the top of the Search pane bar allow you to modify or enhance your search capabilities both pre- and post-search.

Search Type
Use this drop-down menu to select the type of search you'd like to perform.

Smart Search (default)

. The Smart Search is a relevancy-based search with the most likely results returned first; “exact” takes priority over “begins with” matches and bias is shown towards

Search for a title, author, keyword, call number, or anything at all.

Smart Search uses a comprehensive relevancy ranking system to sort your results in order of most to least likely relevant to your query. An exact match takes priority over a partial match, and bias is given to titles, authors, and series

, and subjects before all other keywords. In fact, results with exact title and author matches are always shown first, so the results retrieved are more relevant than those found using a pure keyword search.

above other categories. Term frequency is also considered. For example, if you search for "volcano", books with "volcano" in the title will be listed first, and those that mention "volcano" in multiple fields (summary, subject, etc.) will be listed higher than books that only mention it once or not at all.

If Smart Search isn't returning the results you expect, select a different search type or try an Advanced Search.

Authors

Search for an author.

Awards

Search for titles that have won a specific award, such as the Caldecott Honor.

Bibliographic *

Search for bibliography titles.

Call Number

Search for a partial or complete call number. Start

  • Authors. You can search the selected library catalog for books with a priority set to “exact” author keywords.
  • Awards. You can search the selected library catalog for titles which have won a specific Award, for example Caldecott Honor.
  • Bibliographic. You can search the selected library by all titles designated as Bibliographic.
    • CallNumber. Search the selected library catalog by call number. Although complete or partial call numbers may be entered, try to start

    with the first alphanumeric character and include all punctuation and spaces (case does not matter).

    Curriculum

    . Search the selected library catalog for titles that are listed as Curriculum.
  • Notes. You can search the selected library catalog, within Notes made for individual title.
  • Series. You can search the selected library catalog for books with a priority set to “exact” series keywords.

    • *

    Search for a curriculum.

    Notes

    Search for information saved in item notes.

    Series

    Search for a specific series.

    Subjects

    If you don't

    Subjects. If you do not

    have an exact title or author in mind, use this search type to find materials on a particular topic based on subject keywords.

    Titles

    . You can search the selected library catalog for books with a priority set to “exact” titles.
  • All Mediums. Choices built from Authority Control, this limits the search results to a specified Medium. Uses Medium Alias names so it’s easier for patrons to understand. Default is All Mediums. NOTE: This feature is not available unless Authority Control is enabled.
    • Genre. Choices built from Authority Control, this limits the search results to a specified Genre; default is All Genres. NOTE: This feature is not available unless Authority Control is enabled.

    Search for an exact title.

    Popularity

    Alexandria tracks the popularity of each title, including e-resources, based on checkouts, accession date, holds, and reviews. Enter a percentage (like 90) into the Popularity filter to get results in the top 90 percent of popular items. 

    Study Programs

    These filters are useful to narrow searches in your collection to items that have been assigned reading levels or classified as part of a study program such as Accelerated Reader, Reading Counts, Fountas and Pinnell, Guided Reading or Lexile. This way, patrons can search your collection based on the a specific study program name, reading levels, points, and interest code. Keep in mind that

    Tip

    For reading-level filters to show meaningful results, the name of the study program contained in the 521_b or 526_a tag of an item record must follow established standards

    (e.g. “Fountas

    . For example, "Fountas & Pinnell” is incorrect and must be correctly named “Fountas and Pinnell”

    ) in order

    for reading level filters to show meaningful results.

  • Lexile. This filter narrows your search results to items with a specified lexile score between zero and 2000 (i.e. information kept within the 521 tag); for more information about these fields, please review the Lexiles section.


    • Select a study program to search by:

    Expand
    titleAccelerated Reader
    Column
    • Interest Level. Specify an interest code (521 tag).
    • Reading Level. Specify a reading level range (526 tags). If you provide only one value, only that value will be searched.
    • Point Count. Specify a point count range.
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    Expand
    titleReading Counts
    Column
    • Interest Level. Specify an interest code (
    Interest Level. This filter limits your search results to items with interest codes (i.e. the
    • 521 tag).
    • Reading Level.
    This filter limits your results to items within a specified
    • Specify a reading level range (
    i.e.
    • 526 tags). If you provide only one value, only that value will be searched.
    • Point Count.
    This filter limits your results to items within a specified
    • Specify a point count range.
    Column
    Image Added
    Expand
    titleFountas and Pinnell
    Column
    • Reading Level. Specify a reading level range (526 tags). If you provide only one value, only that value will be searched.
    Column
    Image Added
    Expand
    titleGuided Reading
    Column
    • Reading Level. Specify a reading level range (526 tags). If you provide only one value, only that value will be searched.
    Column
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    Expand
    titleLexile
    Column
    • Lexile. Search for titles within a specific Lexile score range (521 tag) and/or a Lexile code.
    Column
    Image Added
    Medium

    This filter allows a user to select from a list of Mediums such as Book on CD, Sound Recording, Magazine, etc. Mediums. This list is edited through limits the search results to the selected medium, such as book, electronic resource, sound recording, etc. The mediums list is managed in Authority Control.

    Genre

    This filter allows users to select from a list of Genres. The default selection is All Genreslimits the search results to a specified genre. The genre list is managed in Authority Control, so you can only search by genre when Authority Control is enabled.

    Tags

    This drop-down menu can be populated with ‘Tagged’ tagged terminology (e.g. authors, title, etc.) from the items in your Results Listsearch results. When one of your tags is selected from this menu, a new search—using search is performed using that tagged term—is performedterm. The Tags menu can store up to twenty-five ( 25 ) selections before dropping the last from the list. Further, tags are only available for the current session and are cleared when the browser is reset or refreshed. For more information on tagged information from your brief or expanded Results List, please click here.

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    Hidden Items

    If you would like to view hidden items, hold down alt/option on your keyboard when performing a search. NOTE: Only hidden items will be shown in the results.

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    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Perform a Search
    1. First, if you're part of a Centralized Catalog, use the Site Selection drop-down menu to specify whether you'd like to search the current local or entire union collection.
    2. Next, use the Search Type drop-down menu located above the Search field to select the type of search you wish to perform. We typically recommend the Smart Search (default) search type to locate information in your collection(s). However, you may also choose to search by Authors, Call Number, Series, Subjects, and Titles.
    3. If required, you can use the Study Programs filters to select materials with a study program tag (e.g. Lexile, Interest Level, Reading Level, or Point Count).
      1. You may be asked to enter a minimum and/or maximum Reading Level. If you enter only one value, only that value will be searched.
      2. You may be asked to provide an Interest Level.
      3. You may be asked to enter a minimum and/or maximum Points count; only items within that point count range will be chosen.
    4. Enter a search query by typing a few descriptive keywords (single words or phrases) in the Search field via keyboard or “copy and paste”. Alternately, for

    Explore Panes

    Just below the Search pane is the integrated (and optional) Explore component for the Alexandria Search interface. The Explore pane(s) are only offered here as an addendum to the primary Search pane and will never replace it. If you would like to offer your patrons an entirely iconic interface for searching your catalog, you may use the dedicated Explore interface with its own set of preferences that can be individually adjusted.

    Although the Explore pane(s) are most useful to
    1. those who can't read or write fluently
    , the visual interface can be completely customized and used a number of different ways to meet the needs of your library. The contents, events, and actions that are performed when you
    1. and find text-based searches difficult (or impossible) to use, click one of the large, graphic elements
    depends on what you've defined
    1. in the Explore
    Builder
    1. pane to perform a search.

    For example, clicking one of the Explore buttons can:

    • Perform an instant, visual searches for titles, authors, subjects, or even eBooks, popular items, new materials, etc.
    • Redirect to other predefined Explore panes.
    • Display an important message.
    • Open an outside website in a new tab of your web browser.

    The results returned from an Explore-based search look exactly the same as those from a standard search.

    The Explore component for the Search interface is completely optional, and may be deactivated in your Search preferences if your library chooses not to use it.

    1. When you stop typing, Alexandria will return the most relevant results immediately. If you continue typing, Alexandria will continue to refine your results. To broaden or restrict the search, include more or fewer terms. We recommend that you start with the most general search terms first and then more specific search terms if you can't locate your item.
    2. For information on how to handle post-filtering and manage your search results, see Refine Your Search Results.
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