MeL Multisearch Help
Another search option is the MeL Multisearch. This search allows you to choose multiple databases and limit to specific fields. MeL Multisearch uses the broadcast search method. Only Michigan residents and libraries can use the Multisearch.
First, check the databases you want to include in your search. You can choose them separately or you can choose pre-selected groupings.
There are three text boxes for your terms. You may use one, two, or three. Each box lets you choose the field in which your term will be searched.
- Keywords
- Title
- Author
- Subject
Keywords will search all of the fields, title only in the titles, author only in the authors, and subject only in the subjects.
If you have more than one term, you will need to choose an "operator:"
And means all terms must be present.
Or means any of the terms may be present.
Not means the term must not be present.
If you have more than two terms, the order of your operators becomes important. This is labeled, "Construct search as:" on the MeL Multisearch page. The asterisk symbolizes the operator.
(Term1 * Term2) * Term3 e.g. (Red AND White) OR Blue
Term1 * (Term2 * Term3) e.g. Red AND (White OR Blue)
If you have less than three terms, leave the radio button set to the first option, which is the default setting.
Examples:
If you want to find an article about wolverines in Michigan and you mean the animal rather than the college team, you could construct a search that looks like this:
(wolverines AND Michigan) NOT sports
and you would check the first option
If you want to find a book about Latino or Hispanic students you would construct a search that looks like this with the second box selected:
Student AND (Latino OR Hispanic)
This search could also be expressed as:
(Latino OR Hispanic) AND Student
with the first box selected.
