Fraser Valley Regional Library

If these tips don’t help you with your OUTLOOK Online search, please call or go into your local Fraser Valley Regional Library location.

Search Entry

• Use either upper or lower case when entering terms
• Omit punctuation marks, unless specified as is the case for numbers
• Substitute a space for a comma or hyphen where a title contains a number

Alphabetical Browse

• Searches are alphabetical by the first word in your search term
• Omit initial articles
• Either full or partial words; since right-hand truncation of search terms is automatic. (e.g. GONE WITH WIN would be a valid search)

Word Search

• Entry search terms in any order
• For simple Keyword searches, Boolean AND is assumed
• Omit “The” as the first word of a title. Do include “A” or “An” if it is the first word of a title
• Within a title, the following stop words are ignored: of, and, the, in, to, and for
• Enter search term words in complete form; there is no automatic truncation in this mode. (e.g. GONE WIND)

Using Boolean Operators to Build a Complex Keyword Search

• Click on the blue AND/OR/NOT button. OR will broaden your search; AND or NOT will narrow it
• When building a Boolean search, follow the keyword searching rules above for term entry, stop words, etc
• Remember to select the type of heading (author, title, subject, notes, all headings) to be searched for each term by using the Heading drop-down menus
• To revise a search after completion, click on the New Search link and revise your search

Number Key Searching

• LCCN: Enter the full number with or without hyphen
• ISBN: Enter the full number without hyphen
• ISSN: Enter the full number with hyphen
• Publisher Number: Enter the full number with hyphen
• Superintendent of Documents Number: Enter a full or partial number with spaces and punctuation marks
• System Number: Enter a full number