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Limiting a Search

Limiting a search can be a very effective way of reducing what would otherwise be an unwieldy list of results to only the most relevant titles. However, instead of starting with very narrow search criteria -- and possibly missing related items -- a good search strategy might be to start as broadly as possible, and then gradually limit the initial broad search through a sequence of carefully designed steps.

Note: You cannot apply limits to Heading Searches (e.g., the Author Browse, Call Number Browse, Name Title Browse and Subject Browse options in the Search Type list on the Basic Search page).

Quick Limit

You may elect to use the quick limit function on the Basic Search page by selecting a Location Limit in the Limit Search To list. To clear the quick limit you've selected, scroll up to the top of the list and select the None option.

Search Limits Page

You may click the Set Search Limits button on either the Basic Search page or the Builder Search page for a full range of limit choices, including by Location.

1. To limit your search by a year, type the year in the Date text box in the format YYYY. Then click on the appropriate circle for the date range that you want to find.
   For example, to find all texts published before 1850, type 1850 in the text box and then click on the circle next to the less than symbol (<).
2. To limit your search by Language, Location, Date (Year), Medium, Item Type, Place of Publication and Publication Status, click on the appropriate drop-down list and select the limiting criteria. Your library determines what limiting criteria are available.
3. If you want to change all of your search limits and start anew, click on the Clear Limits button at the bottom of the page.
4. When you are ready to activate the limits you've selected, click the Set Limits button at the bottom of the page, or the Submit button at the top of the page.
5. When you return to your search page, you will see a banner at the top left of the screen indicating that Search Limits are In Effect! If the banner is not there, you skipped step 4, above.
6. Click the Search button to begin the search.
7. Click the Clear Search Limits button to cancel the active limits (note that clicking on the Reset or New Search button clears the other criteria on the search page but does not clear the limits).