WYLD TECHNOTE 019: Serials Solutions 360 Search
360 Search is a federated search product that gives users the ability to search multiple licensed and free resources at the same time.
Access
Users in Wyoming library sites who normally have direct access to statewide resources will also have authenticated access to 360 Search. Users accessing from home or other location considered remote, will need to first authenticate with a valid Wyoming library card and PIN to gain access to this service.
Coverage
The State Library's 360 Search implementation includes resources licensed statewide as well as many free resources. The resources are presented either alphabetically, or grouped by broad subject categories. Not all resources that are licensed for use by Wyoming citizens are compatible with federated searching. E.g. Bookflix or Heritage Quest. Additionally, individual libraries may provide access to other resources not available statewide. Contact your library to find out more about the resources available to you as a registered user.
Searching
Use the Basic search page to simply enter what you're searching for and get results.
Use the Advanced search page for expanded searching options like a search type menu, the Year Search Limiter to enter a specific date, and advanced Boolean searching. You can search using the fields listed below:
| Search Type | What does it search? |
|---|---|
| Title | The "title" field |
| Author | The "author" field |
| Full Text | For full-text content, if available |
| Keyword | The "keyword" field |
| Subject | The "subject" field |
| Abstract | The "abstract" field |
| ISSN | Exact ISSN |
| ISBN | Exact ISBN |
| Any | Usually works like a "keyword" search |
Try using Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT) to find what you're looking for. For phrase searching, put "quotation marks" around your search phrase to return more precise results.
With both the Basic and Advanced search options, you can choose specific resources to search. If you already know which resources you want to search, click on "Search by database" to choose from a list of available resources.
If you aren't sure where to begin but you know what subject area(s) you are interested in researching, click on "Search by subject" to choose from a list of subject categories.
Click on the 'Search Tips' link within the 360 Interface for more details on searching.
Results
As 360 Search gathers search results, you will see the resources at work. Within seconds, databases return results, and the search page will present live updates.
You will see which resources have returned results first, and you can click on the number to view the results as the remaining databases continue searching.
Use Results by Source to filter your search results to show only those from specific databases or providers. The number of results for each database and provider is shown in parentheses next to each resource. Click on the results number to view a particular resource's results.
If you see plus symbols next to the provider names, that means you have the option to minimize that resource's information. When the information is hidden, the button will appear as a minus symbol, and another click will reveal the information again.
Clustered Results
Clustered results sort your 360 Search results into categories, to help save you time in deciding which results are most appropriate for your purposes. Clustering can also help you refine your search, by giving you new ideas for your search query.
Sorting Results
All the options for sorting and filtering search results are located in the header above the results.
- Sort By: These links allow you to sort search results by publication date, title, author, or source. If your results contain publication dates, they will be automatically sorted by date unless you choose another sort option.
- Filter By: Use this checkbox to filter your results down to "Full Text" (meaning they link to the entire content of the item).
New or Refined Search
At the top of the page, above the clustered results, are the "Refine Search" and "New Search" links.
- Refine Search: This link returns to the original search query where you can edit and run the search again.
- New Search: This takes you to a fresh search page to start a new query.
Export, Save, and Email
Above the results list are links to email, export, or save selected results. To select records, use the checkboxes next to each result. Once results are selected, the "Email" and "Export/Save" links are activated. Clicking on "selected records" link from the results page allows you to view only your selections in a new window.
Clicking on "Email" prompts you to fill out a form. On the form, you may choose to send your selected records in a format compatible with bibliographic citation managers like EndNote or ProCite, in plain text, or in HTML.
Clicking on "Export/Save" prompts you to fill out a similar form. You may choose to save the records either in a format compatible with bibliographic citation managers like EndNote or ProCite, as plain text, or as HTML.
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technote 019 - January 2013