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Using MetaFind

MetaFind Help Topics

MetaFind searches multiple library resources (library catalogs, databases, search engines and reference materials) simultaneously and retrieves results in a single list.

Click on this icon:

MetaFind icon

to go directly to MetaFind.

How to do an Advanced Search

View a MetaFind video tutorial View a video tutorial

Please note, when you first go to MetaFind, you will be at the advanced search page.
To go to the Simple Search Page, use this button: simple search button

The Advanced Search Page

The Advanced Search page allows you to create a "boolean" search using up to three sets of terms. Here you select the resources you would like to search. Tip: Try to keep the number of resources you select managable. Five resources per search is usually best as a maximum.

the MetaFind advanced search screen MetaFind icon

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Creating a Successful Advanced Search

Enter the search terms and choose the field that you want to use to search (keyword, title, author):

the MetaFind advanced search screen showing where search terms are entered

Then select the boolean operators (and, or, not) to connect your terms together. You will also choose how you want MetaFind to look for your terms. In the example below, we are looking for information about banned books. We've chosen to search for "banned AND (books or literature)" instead of "banned AND books (OR literature)." We could also narrow our search by using NOT: "banned AND books (NOT pornography)"

example of a boolean search

After you have created your search, select your resources. Take care not to pick too many as your results list will be very lengthy and your search not as effective. Remember that a maximum of five sources is best.

selecting resources in MetaFind

MetaFind defaults to a maximum of 10 results per resource. You can increase this number using these selectors on the main search page:

MetaFind's return selector MetaFind icon

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Viewing the Search Process

Wait for the resources to complete their searches. Then review your results.

MetaFind's search progress screen

Next: Navigating Your Search Results

MetaFind icon

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