The Federal Depository Library Directory (FDLD) interface is divided into two main sections: a menu section on the left and a work area in the center. Use the menu links to navigate between the various sections of the FDLD. Clicking on a menu link opens that section in the work area.

Sign Out
Use the Sign Out link to end the current FDLD session.

Sign In
Public users have the option of using the Sign In link to end the current FDLD session and log in as an authenticated user.

The FDLD Profile Search page allows users to use query terms to search for profiles in the Directory. The fields that appear on the FDLD Profile Search page are determined by field property flags and user access. Two exceptions are the Keywords and All Profiles fields, which are always present on the profile search screen as long as at least one field is flagged as FDL Search.

Enter a search term or combination of search terms and click the Submit button to conduct a search. Internet Explorer users can also use the Enter key to submit a search. To return all available profiles, select the All Profiles checkbox.

Searching Multiple Fields
Searches using multiple fields default to a boolean "AND" search. In order to produce a hit, both search terms must be present in the record. Examples are shown below:

A search for State=Alabama AND Depository Type=Regional depository library returns records containing both Alabama in the State field and Regional depository library in the Depository Type field.

A search for State=Alabama AND Depository Type=Regional depository library AND Zip Code=36* returns records containing Alabama in the State field, Regional depository library in the Depository Type field, and a Zip Code beginning with 36.

Fuzzy searching is a technique for finding words that approximately match the search term. To perform a fuzzy search, use the asterisk (*) character to match from zero to many characters.

Examples:

Find Zip Codes starting with 2:

Find Parent Institutions ending with University:

Find Library Names with kennedy somewhere in the name:

Keyword searching is a method for convieniently searching against all of the fields listed on the search page. A search using the keyword field is the same as entering the search term into all of the search fields on the page.

A keyword search does not perform any query processing. Instead, search terms entered into the Keyword field are used "as is". Quoted searches and Boolean searches are not supported. As with normal field searches, keyword searching is not case sensitive.

To perform a keyword search, enter a search term into the Keyword field. Selecting the Submit button will execute the search against all listed fields. The example below uses a Keyword search to execute a search for "Washington" against the following fields: Parent Institution Of Library, Library Name, Street Address, City, Zip Code.

Other examples of using the Keyword field would be to find all occurrences of the word "Legal" , the number "1999" or the word "Community".

If the search is successful, it will return a set of search results. Otherwise, a message will display informing the user that no results were found. The current search query and the number of results it produced is displayed above the results list.

If an FDLD profile search yields no results, return to the FDLD profile search screen by selecting the Search FDLD Profiles link from the Directory menu.

The default sort order of the profiles shown in the results list is determined by the order in which the profiles were added to the system. The columns can be resorted by clicking the up or down arrows under each column heading. Use the up arrow to sort the column values in ascending order. Use the down arrow to sort the column values in descending order.

Data from the FDLD profiles displayed in the search results list can be printed by selecting the printer icon displayed on the results list. Using the FDL Directory printer function is different from using the print option from the browser in several ways: First, it may allow you access to fields not displayed on the results list. Second, it allows you to selectively choose which of the profiles in the list you want to print.

Selecting the print icon opens the print options menu in a separate window. The fields displayed in the print options menu are determined by the FDL Directory Administrator, and may be different from the fields displayed in the results list.

Choose which profiles you'd like to print by selecting the check box next to the profile located in the Select column. To easily select all of the profiles at one time, select the check box located below the Select column header. Select the check box again to deselect all of the profiles.

Finally, select the Print button to print the selections. Otherwise, choose the Cancel button to close the window without printing.

Data from the FDLD profiles displayed in the search results list can be exported (saved) to the local desktop by selecting the save disk icon displayed on the results list. The export function offers several output options: a formatted HTML file, a comma-delimited CSV file or a tabbed text file.

Selecting the save disk icon opens the export options menu in a separate window. The fields displayed in the export options menu are determined by the FDL Directory Administrator, and may be different from the fields displayed in the results list.

Use the check boxes located in the Select column to choose the profiles to export. To easily select all of the profiles at one time, select the check box located below the Select column header. Select the check box again to deselect all of the profiles.

Select an export format from the Format list. HTML exports the data as a formatted HTML file. CSV exports the data as a comma-delimited CSV file. TXT exports the data as a tabbed text file.

Finally, select the Save button to save the selections to the local desktop. Otherwise, choose the Cancel button to close the window without exporting.

Click the View button from the search results list to display the details of a profile.

There are several methods to navigate the search results list while viewing profile records. Navigation tools are provided both at the top and the bottom of the page.

Use the single arrows to jump forwards or backwards to the next record in the list. To jump all the way to the beginning or end of the list, use the double arrows. To return to the search results list, select the Back to Search Results link.

If you have a further questions or comments, please use AskGPO at http://gpo.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/gpo.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php under the category Federal Depository Library, under the heading CATALOG OF U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, subcategory "Federal Depository Library Directory".