Expanded Keyword Search Form
The Advanced Search screen will feature an Expanded Keyword Search form permitting keyword searching of multiple fields combined with Boolean Operators. NOTE: The recommended 3-box approach with optional limits is quite commonly used in ALEPH OPACS (as well as in LINCC and WebLUIS).
Each drop-down menu contains the following search options:
- Keyword(s) Anywhere
- Subject Keyword(s)
- Title Keyword(s)
- Author Keyword(s)
- Keyword(s) in Notes
- Keyword(s) in Series
- Keyword(s) in Publisher
NOTE: In ALEPH, only keyword searches can be combined for the expanded search (unlike WebLUIS, for example, where users may currently combine keyword and browse search types).
A different default is presented in each of the three search boxes to help convey to users the ability to create a more specific search.
Limit drop-down menus should exist in the GUC for FORMAT and LANGUAGE. At this time the Task Force recommends including a short list of the most commonly used limits at the top of each drop-down, followed by a complete list (in the same drop-down). This approach seems to have particular merit for presenting the many language and format options effectively to users.
Limiting to a publication DATE (or range of dates) should also be possible. A LOCATION limit, while important in many local ALEPH catalogs, does not seem appropriate in the GUC.
NOTE: An assessment will need to be made about the technical feasibility of including limits in the GUC. The Task Force recommends that this functionality be included in the GUC to as great an extent as possible.
As the illustration in Appendix B demonstrates, the layout of the Expanded Keyword search form is similar to that of the Basic Keyword Search screen. An I-Ball will link to a screen providing examples and search hints relevant to this more complex search form. Subsequent Task Force members should develop content for those elements once they have access to a working model of the union environment. Examples already developed for use in the local catalogs should be available by that time to assist in this effort.