Keyword or Subject Searching

WHICH TO USE WHEN SEARCHING THE MILLER LIBRARY CATALOG?

Note: These directions apply to Miller Library's online catalog. Other databases, such as FirstSearch, may have different parameters for keyword searches.

Keyword searches generally work best when---
  • You don't know the precise search term or title
  • You want a large, less focused result. Try using a "wild card" (*)
  • You want to combine two different search terms--to show relationship
    Using "Advanced Search"
    Using "Boolean operators"
  • When you want to search the "Contents field"
    For example, to find a song title on a CD.
Subject searches generally work best when---
  • You know the proper search term (or can find it in the LC Subject Headings books, or by doing a subject search in the catalog and getting a "See instead" message)
  • You want more focused results
As a general rule, Keyword searching may be quicker and more intuitive, but you might try experimenting with Subject searching to see what different results you will get--(unless you don't know and can't find the proper search terms; in that case you will have to use keyword.)