Simple search

With the left mouse button, click the Simple search button in the column on the left, to be able to search by means of one entry field only on the Search tab.

1. By default, you search all available data collections here: Library catalogue, Museum collection and Archives are marked. If you do not want to search one or two of these databases, then click it to deselect the concerning checkbox.

2. In the Search entry field, type the word or name on which you want to search. You may also provide just a partial word, or multiple words at once (in the latter case all words must occur in a result). You separate two words with a space.

3. Click the Search button to start the search.

Remark: select the Search in results option if you have just executed some other search and now you want to search further on another word, within the previous results.

Advanced search

If you would like to search on more than one word or name simultaneously, and also want to be able to indicate per search word where it should occur (in which fields), for instance in the title of a museum object, in the name of a material, or in an author’s name, then the Advanced search is probably more suitable than Simple search .

With the left mouse button, click the Advanced search button in the column on the left, to be able to search on multiple words in specific fields, on the Search tab.

1. Click the Search in drop-down list to open it. Here, choose the database (data collection) or a dataset thereof (subset of a database) to search in. Of the three available databases ( Library catalogue, Museum collection and Archives ) only the first is subdivided into several datasets. Choose for instance the Serials dataset if you only want to search serials; however, choose the Library catalogue if you want to search in all types of publications.

Here, you cannot search in more than one database at a time.

2. Which entry fields are visible, depends on the database or dataset you chose in step 1. Type the word or name on which you want to search, in the concerning entry field. You may also provide just a partial word, or leave fields empty; as long as at least one Value is filled in, you can start the search. Note that a submitted word will only be searched in the concerning field in the database: so if you were to submit “bicycle” as Object name in the Museum collection , then the Adlib Internet Server does not search in the title of objects, or in the creator’s name, etc. (If you want to search in multiple fields simultaneously on one word, you should use Simple search .)

Behind some entry fields you’ll find a List button (white, with a number of small black lines in it). Instead of just typing a word or name, with this button you can look up all words that occur in the concerning field in the database. This is handy if you are not sure about the spelling of a word or name, or if you just want to search alphabetically. This way your search will always yield results. In the Library catalogue for instance, you’ll see a List button behind the Author and Subject term entry fields. For example, click that button behind Author , and on the right side of the screen a list opens with all author names that occur in the database. Below that list, you can click the << or >> icon to browse through the list. If you are looking for author names that start with a “W”, then you may type that letter in the Author entry field before you click the List button, so that the list directly opens at the letter “W”. Now, if you want to copy one of the names to the Author entry field, click the small < button to the left of that name. (If you want to search immediately on a word or name that you see in such a list, without taking any values in the other entry fields into account, then click that word or name in the list.)

In fields that have no List button, you can enter multiple words, separated by spaces (then all words must occur in a result).

3. Behind the Sort by option you can choose if you would like the search result to be sorted or not, and if so, on which field. This is especially handy if your search generates a lot of results. Just mark the concerning Sort by radio button by clicking it.

4. Click the Search button to start the search.

Remark: select the Search in results option if you have just executed some other search and now you want to search further on another word, within the previous results. This way you could search on one subject term first and then also on another, for example.

Use the Clear button to erase all entry fields here, for a new search.

Expert search

If you have a lot of experience with searching databases, and you want to submit complex search statements, then Expert search might be the appropriate search method for you.

With the left mouse button, click the Expert search button in the column on the left, to be able to search on multiple words and combined through Boolean operators, on the Search tab.

1. Click the Search in drop-down list to open it. Here, choose the database or a dataset to search in. Of the three available databases ( Library catalogue , Museum collection and Archives ) only the first is subdivided into several datasets. Choose for instance the Serials dataset if you only want to search serials; however, choose the Library catalogue if you want to search in all types of publications.

Here, you cannot search in more than one database at a time.

2. In the drop-down list beneath Field you must choose a field in which you want to search. Which fields are available, depends on the database or dataset you chose in step 1.

Depending on the field type, you can sometimes choose another Operator than “=”. In that case (e.g. for the Year field), a drop-down list is available in which you can also choose “>” (greater than), “<” (smaller than), “<=” (smaller than or equal to) and “>=” (greater than or equal to). You can use these to search on years after 1945, or before 1970 for example.

In the entry field under Value , type the word, number or name on which you want to search. You may also provide just a partial word, in such a case you search truncated, as we call it; then mark the Truncation checkbox. If the term you enter is already a whole word, e.g. “table”, and you don’t want the search to extend to words like “tablespoon”, then you must deselect this option.

Behind some entry fields, in the List column, you’ll also find a List button. Instead of just typing a word or name, with this button you can look up all words that occur in this field in the database. This is handy if you are not sure about the spelling of a word or name, or if you just want to search alphabetically. This way your search will always yield results. In the Library catalogue for instance, you’ll see a List button behind the Author , Corporate author and Subject term entry fields. For example, click that button behind Author , and on the right side of the screen a list opens with all author names that occur in the database. Below that list, you can click the << or >> icon to browse through the list. If you are looking for author names that start with a “W”, then you may type that letter in the Author entry field before you click the List button, so that the list directly opens at the letter “W”. Now, if you want to copy one of the names to the Author entry field, click the small < button to the left of that name. (If you want to search immediately on a word or name that you see in such a list, without taking any values in other entry fields into account, then click that word or name in the list.)

In fields that have no List button, you can enter multiple words, separated by spaces (then all those words must occur in a result).

3. To extend this search statement, click the + sign behind the search line. Now you can enter a second search line. You have to combine the two search lines with a Boolean operator. For this purpose, in the Boolean column in the first line, a drop-down list has appeared. From this list, choose either “ and”, “or”, or “and not ”. With “ and” a result must comply to both search lines, with “or ” a result must comply to at least one of both search lines, and with “ and not ” a result must comply to the first search line but not to the second. The search lines are executed from top to bottom. This is important when you combine search lines. The result of the first two lines will be combined with the third line, and the result thereof in turn will be combined with the fourth line, etc. So, place the combined search statement that has to be executed first, at the top.

You may also leave lines empty or remove them by clicking the – sign at the end of the line above it; as long as at least one Value is filled in, you can start the search.

4. Behind the Sort by option you can choose if you would like the search result to be sorted or not, and if so, on which field. This is especially handy if your search generates a lot of results. Just mark the concerning Sort by radio button by clicking it.

5. Click the Search button to start the search.

Remark: select the Search in results option if you have just executed some other search and now you want to search further on another word, within the previous results.

Use the Clear button to erase all entry fields here, for a new search.

Log in

Via the Log in button, which is present on several tabs, you may log in (if you are a registered borrower). It allows you to make reservations.