Choosing A Search Option
The Purdue catalog offers several different search options. Your choice depends on the information you need, what you already know, and your personal preference.
Search
- Best for conducting a quick search when you have a title, author name, or call number.
- The keyword option allows the use of Boolean Operators and quotation marks (" ") for phrase searching
- An easy way to browse the catalog's subject headings or controlled vocabulary.
Assisted Search
- An advanced search option that allows you to create sophisticated search statements using Boolean Operators, truncation, and nesting.
Course Reserves
- Course Reserves are items that are selected by a professor or instructor that have a unique purpose for a particular class.
- They typically stay in the library and have a limited check out period.
- These items can be books, articles, or dvds as well as other source types.
New Books
- Use this search interface to browse the new books purchased by the Libraries.
- You can browse by specific subject or library.
For instructions on specific types of searching within the catalog, visit our Library Catalog research guide.