Library of Congress Online Catalog: Help Pages

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  UNICODE:
  Displaying Non-Roman
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  SEARCHING:
  Basic Search Overview
  Keyword Searches:
  - Keyword
  - Title Keyword
  - Author/Creator
  - Subject Keyword
  - Name/Title
  - Series/Uniform Title
  Other Searches:
  - Expert Search
  - Title Begins With
  - Author/Creator Browse
  - Subject Browse
  - Call No. Browse (LC)
  - Call No. Browse (Other)
  - Number Search
  - Author Sorted by Title
  Guided Search


  Limiting Searches
  Search History
  Boolean Searching

  INDEX CODES:
  for Guided Searches
  for Expert Searches

  SEARCH RESULTS:
  Brief Record
  Subjects/Content
  Full Record
  MARC Tags


  Headings List
  Titles List
  Titles List (Keyword)
  References/Scope Notes
  Save, Print, Email

  OTHER TOPICS:
  Headings List Types
  Material Types
  Database Selection
  Icons, Buttons & Tabs
  Session Time-Outs

Basic Search Overview

Basic Search offers the largest variety of search options in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. In order to use this search most effectively, it is important to be aware of and to understand the differences between each search type available. Brief help information can be found by scrolling down on the page, but more extensive help screens are available for each individual search type and should be consulted as needed:

Keyword Searches:
Keyword - Title Keyword - Author/Creator Keyword - Subject Keyword
Name/Title Keyword - Series/Uniform Title Keyword

Expert, Left-Match and Browse Searches:
Expert Search - Title Begins With - Author/Creator Browse - Subject Browse
Call Number Browse (LC Class No.) - Call Number Browse (Other Nos.)
Number Search (LCCN-ISBN-ISSN) - Author Creator Sorted by Title Browse


Screen: Basic Search Window

  1. Enter one or more search words in the Search Text: box
  2. Select a Search Type: from the window, reflecting the type of search you wish to perform.
  3. Select the number of results per page (default is 100).
  4. Select the Begin Search button to perform the search.

Depending on the type of search you select, your results will be presented as a Headings List (Keyword heading searches, Author/Creator and Subject Browse), a Titles List (Title, Call Number, LCCN-ISBN-ISSN and Command Keyword) or a Titles List Keyword (Keyword search only, which includes relevance ranking).

Use the browser's [Back] button to resume searching.

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June 27, 2008