Relevance Keyword Searches

A Relevance Keyword search finds words, phrases or names anywhere in a catalog record and then ranks the results. This type of search has features similar to those of an Internet search engine.  

The order in which results are retrieved in a Relevance Keyword search is determined by a relevance algorithm. Relevance ranking is used by many Internet search engines (AltaVista, Lycos, etc.), though each formula for determining relevance is a little different. The factors that affect the relevance ranking in the Cornell Library Catalog are:

• Uniqueness of search terms within the database
• Proximity of search terms to each other within the bibliographic record
• Proportion of search terms present in a bibliographic record
• Fields (subject heading, author, title) in which the search terms occur. Some of the fields, such as subject, carry extra weight.

To Perform a Relevance Keyword Search:

1.    If desired, set Search Limits. 

Search Limits may be set before or after your search to restrict by year, language, item type, medium, location, and/or publication status. Search limits will remain valid for all Title and Keyword searches until you clear them.

2.    Click Relevance Keyword in the Search by: box.

3.    In the Search for: box, type the search words or phrase. 
• Use quotation marks (" ") to search phrases: "war of the worlds"
• Use a question mark (?) with partial words to find variant endings: entrepr? finds entrepreneur, entrepreneurial

4.    Use special punctuation symbols to combine search terms, NOT Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).

• Use a plus sign (+) before words that MUST be in the record: +hurricanes +gulf
• Use an exclamation point (!) before words that must NOT appear: pets !cats
5.    If desired, choose a Quick Limit.

6.    Choose the number of records to display per page.

7.    Click Search.

Search Tips:

• Words or phrases can be entered in any order.
• Using more words or phrases will increase the precision of your search.
• All words will be searched, including and, or, not, the, a, la, das, etc. There are no stop words.

Interpreting your Search Results and Displays