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Unit 4: Search Methods

Lesson 4: Boolean Searching: AND, OR, and NOT


Boolean searching combines keywords using connecting terms called “Boolean Operators.” Boolean searching is just a fancy term for the act of connecting two or more keywords in a search. Use Boolean searching to make your search more precise.

The three basic Boolean search terms are AND, OR, and NOTAND requires all search terms to appear in a catalog record. OR retrieves records with either search term. NOT eliminates specified keywords. For example:

AND will focus your search

AND

OR will broaden your search

OR

NOT will cast information out


NOT






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