Searching the Chickasaw Nation Law Library Catalog: Narrowing a Search

When facing too many search results, there are many strategies you can use to narrow your search.

• Change your search terms. Use precise language.
• Add an additional search term.
• Limit your results to only print materials or only electronic materials.
• Add a time frame. Look for recent publications or publications printed in the same time frame to find unique perspectives on a topic.

Using filters can help limit or narrow your search for items. To see a full list of these search tools, go to advanced search in the library catalog. You can isolate your search by:

• Format of material
• Publication Year
• Language
• Content Type

You can also use the check-boxes for articles that are published in titles that use the peer-review process or for open access items (free to read), this will help limit electronic resources from other databases that are included in this search if the format is not limited.

To search by location use (b8:[location name]) in the search term box.

For example, to search the Oklahoma Collection the search terms would be (kw:cowboys AND b8:Oklahoma) or to search all the study aids listed in one location (b8:study aids).

Similar to the Advanced Search filter options, the results page will also have more filters. This includes filtering by libraries, formats, content type, and publication year. You are able to create a custom year range or limit using the options given. You can also limit by Author/Creator, Subject, Database, Language and Intended Audience to narrow your search. 

Boolean Operator AND

In advanced searching, the Boolean operator AND can be used to search for items that include both term 1 and term 2.

Boolean Operator NOT

In advanced searching, the Boolean operator NOT can be used to search for items that include term 1, but not term 2.