Search equations are strings of terms connected by relationship signifiers called Boolean operators. There are three Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT. Quotation marks are used to search phrases.
You can create complex search equations to combine many different relationships. Use parentheses to isolate some searches before applying them to the whole search.
You don't have to use search equations, but they will often improve the quality and quantity of your results.
As you search for books, it may help to think "inside the box" by being very specific (names or places) and "outside the box" by being more general (topics/issues). "Inside the box" searching allows you to find detailed materials, while "outside the box" thinking keeps you from missing high quality sources that do not have a much detail in their search records.
Since you are only keyword searching, make a list of possible search terms before you start. For example, "influenza" may bring back different results than "Spanish flu." "Influenza outbreak" will bring back different results than "influenza epidemic."
If you are struggling to find books at Molstead Library using the Primo search box, try searching for books through more familiar sites, such as Amazon.com or WorldCat.org. You can InterLibrary Loan books from other libraries for free!
