Basic search

Overview

Use a Basic Search to search for items by keyword, title, author, ISBN, ISSN or OCLC number.

To search other indexes, use the Advanced Search screen. In the left navigation, under the basic search bar, click Advanced Search.

 Note: For a full explanation of searching WorldCat indexes, with labels and lists of fields and subfields indexed, see Searching WorldCat Indexes.

How to search 

1. From the Scope drop-down list, select a search scope.

   • Select My Library Holdings if you already have at least one copy of the item.
   • Select All WorldCat if you do not own any copies of the item.
2. From the Index drop-down list, select an index.
3. In the Term(s) text field, enter your search terms. The text field will expand to fit your search terms if needed. All indexes support wildcard searching with an asterisk (e.g., cat*).
4. Click Search.
5. Click the title of an item to open the WorldCat record.

Bibliographic record scopes and indexes - Table

 Note: See Bibliographic record indexes for detailed information about each bibliographic record index.

Scope	Index
All WorldCat	Keyword Title Author ISBN ISSN OCLC Number You can search up to 250 OCLC numbers at a time. A counter displays how many OCLC numbers remain after you have entered multiple OCLC numbers. Once you meet the limit, the Term(s) text field prevents you from entering any additional OCLC numbers. OCLC numbers are automatically linked by Boolean OR.
My Group Holdings	Note: This scope is only available to WorldShare Management Services libraries with Group aware. Keyword Title Author ISBN ISSN OCLC Number You can search up to 250 OCLC numbers at a time. A counter displays how many OCLC numbers remain after you have entered multiple OCLC numbers. Once you meet the limit, the Term(s) text field prevents you from entering any additional OCLC numbers. OCLC numbers are automatically linked by Boolean OR.
My Library Holdings	Keyword Title Author ISBN ISSN OCLC Number You can search up to 250 OCLC numbers at a time. A counter displays how many OCLC numbers remain after you have entered multiple OCLC numbers. Once you meet the limit, the Term(s) text field prevents you from entering any additional OCLC numbers. OCLC numbers are automatically linked by Boolean OR.