Learner guide: Searching WorldCat in FirstSearch

Basic search

The Basic Search enables you to search a few of the main indexes in a database. Use the Basic Search if you need quick results using a simple search statement. The BOOLEAN operator “And” is understood between these indexes.

• Simple search (keyword, author, title, ISBN, year)
• Combined simple search (e. g. author and title)
• Limit results to Full-Text

Advanced search

The Advanced Search enables you to construct more complex search statements and to apply filters. 

•  Up to three search terms and three indexes
• Combine terms with BOOLEAN operators AND, NOT, OR
• Additional search limits and filters available

Expert search

The Expert Search is designed for experienced searchers who prefer to enter logical search statements. A list of indexes and labels is provided in a single drop-down list. For example, to search for items by Barbara Kingsolver that do not include the term “vegetable” in the title, enter the index label for Name (au: ) and then enter the term “vegetable” with no index label. Instead, select the title index from the drop-down list. The title index label will apply only to the unlabeled term “vegetable”.

Reference information for constructing searches displays at the bottom of this screen.

Limit to Date

Document type limits

Document types classify items by format. These may be used to limit search results to a specific document type (bibliographic format). Hover over the type name to see what is included in that type. 

Sub-type limits

Further limit your search results by audience, content, and/or format. 

Limit availability to

Rank results

Use ranking (before you search) to organize the results of your search.  Available ranking options vary by database and may include ranking by relevance or date. Ranking by number of libraries holding the item is also available in WorldCat.

View a detailed record

• To view an item from the List of Records, click the record title
• To return to the List of Records, click the List of Records link on the Results tab

Sort results

• Click Options and then choose the Sort criteria for the result set
• The default order is number of libraries
• Other sort options include: title, author, date, number of libraries
• Sort order can be set and saved or set for the active session only

Refine search

• Use refine search link on top of the screen to edit your search by adding more terms and limits

Limit results

• Click the Limit button and select from the database-specific limits for a moe focused result set
• Or, return to the search screen to add more terms and limits 

Related authors and related subjects

• Click on related authors or related subjects button to broaden your search
• Mark selections from the list
• Click Search 
  • New search uses the OR operator between selected terms which often can result is a larger set of citations
  • The first 50 records in the search results
  • The first 20 records show
    • Click on “show remaining authors” to see others.
    • Each related subject author is displayed with a percentage number indicating the frequency of occurrence for each item. 

Save search

After performing a search, click the Save Search link on the Results screen to save your search results. Those search results can then be re-used when you click the Previous Searches link on the FirstSearch Search screen.

Note: The Save Search feature is available to you after you use the My Account function to set up an account with FirstSearch.

Mark records 

1. Check the checkbox in front of each record to be marked
   OR

2. Click Mark All at the bottom of the screen to mark all records on one page of results.

3. Select  to go to the next page and  to go to the previous page of results if you would like to mark records on other pages.
    Note: You can mark a maximum of 100 records.
4. Click Clear Marks at the bottom of the screen if you would like to remove all marks you have made on all pages.
    Note: The Clear Marks button removes marks from all previous and subsequent pages on the list of results. Use this button only when you want to remove all marks you have made.
5. After marking records, select the Marked Records link in the Navigation menu to go to the Marked Records screen. Here you can view, e-mail, export, or save the records you have marked.

View marked records 

FirstSearch keeps track of the records you have marked during your current session.

To...	Do this...
View all marked records	Select Marked Records in the Navigation Menu. The Marked Records screen is displayed. From this screen you can: view a detailed or a brief record for each marked record clear individual records clear all marked records email, export, or print records save records locally view full text for each marked record, if available For more information, select Help () on the Marked Records screen.

Email records 

Email up to 100 brief or detailed records in either HTML or text format. If you have access to full text, you can email the full text of an item. The Send options displayed will depend on the screen from which you've selected the Email button ().

1. Click the Email button () in the Control panel at the top or bottom of the screen.
2. Select a Send option.
    

   if you selected  on this screen:	you can send:
   List of Records	All records on the current page of results Marked records from the current database search only.
   Detailed Record	Detailed Record Marked Records
   Marked Records	Marked Records
   Libraries that Own Item	Holdings Record
   Full Text	Fulltext Record Marked Records

   
    Note: If you selected the PDF or RealPage full text button for a record, use the viewer's print function to print the complete text of the record.
3. Select a Record detail:
   1. Brief record(s) - Sends brief bibliographic summaries
   2. Detailed record(s) - Sends full bibliographic record information
4. Select  Record format:
   1. Send as HTML
   2. Send as plain text (you must specify the maximum number of characters per line)
5. Enter the recipient's email address in the To e-mail address: box.
   
   Optionally, you can enter a send email in the Sender e-mail address: box, and you can enter your name in the Your full name: box. These are especially useful when you are sending email to another person. (Note that for security, your account number and IP address are also sent.)
   
   You can supply an optional subject in the Subject: box. If the box is left empty, the title of the first record send is used.
6. Enter any notes you would like to include in the Notes: box.
7. Select Send. You may be prompted to enter a password when sending full text.

Export records

1. Click the export records () button
2.  Choose export option 

Print records 

In FirstSearch you can print a list of records, an individual detailed record, a group of marked records, or the contents of a Saved Records folder. If you have access to full text, you can also print the complete text of an item.

1. Select the Print button (). FirstSearch reformats the screen to display only the main dialog. The Navigation menu and Control Panel are temporarily removed.
    Note: If you have marked any records, the checkmarks will be visible in the printed copy.
2. When you are finished, select the Return button () at the top right or bottom right of the screen to return to the original format. The Navigation menu and Control Panel are displayed along with the main dialog.
3. Select the Prev () or Next () buttons to go to other pages you would like to print.

Additional information

• FirstSearch documentation 
• OCLC FirstSearch: The basics
• Administrative module
• Open Access Content documentation
• Searching WorldCat Indexes