Columbus Metropolitan Library: Columbus News Index Search Tips



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Obituary Search Tips
Advanced Search Tips
Columbus News Index Article Search Tips

Columbus News Index Article Search Tips

What am I searching?
When searching the Columbus News Index, you are searching abstracts of articles from local newspapers. The index begins in July 1988. It also covers Columbus Dispatch articles from 1960 thru 1997 and obituaries from 1940 thru 1997

Refining Your Search:
The CNI search option allows for advanced boolean and limited wildcard searching. Queries search abstracts, bylines or subjects that librarians assigned to each article.

each are searchable alone by selecting the desired option from the drop down menu.
all three at once by selecting the all option from the drop down menu.

Please Note: A name can be searched within an individual subject line reference by selecting the name option from the drop down menu. This will search for article abstracts and obituaries.

Boolean Searches: Using AND, OR, and NOT will allow you to find more specific information.

AND Searches for article abstracts that reference both words. For example: Ohio AND State.
OR Searches for article abstracts that reference either word. For example: Coleman OR Mayor.
NOT Searches for article abstracts that do not reference the second word. For example: City NOT Hall.

Please Note: CNI does not allow for phrase searching. The search term 'Ohio State University' will be searched as 'Ohio' AND 'State' AND 'University'. The boolean operators are added automatically.

Using the Wildcard: If you are not sure of the exact spelling of a word, or you are looking for root words, the wildcard operator is useful.

The asterisk (*) can be used at the end a search term as a substitute for any number of characters. For example, 'light*' will find light, lights, lightning, etc.

Limit Search by Date:
To limit your search by date, enter a date in both the 'before' and/or 'after' boxes. Dates must be numeric and entered in the form of mm/dd/yyyy (i.e. 10/23/1987).

To find abstracts...

On a specific date: enter the same day in the 'after' and 'before' boxes (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is 10/12/1960).
After a specific date: enter a day in the 'after' box and leave the 'before' box blank (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is blank).
Before a specific date: leave the 'after' box blank and enter a day in the 'before' box (i.e. after is blank and before is 10/12/1960).
Between two dates: enter a start date in the 'after' box and an end date in the 'before' box (i.e. after is 06/10/1960 and before is 10/12/1972).
In a specific month and year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with the day of '01' like 06/01/1970 and an end date in the 'before' box with a day of '31' like 06/31/1970.
In a specific year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with a month and day of '01' like 01/01/1960 and an end date in the 'before' box with a month of '12' and a day of '31' like 12/31/1960.

What if I get too many results?

Try combining search terms with 'and.' Using 'and' will result only in article abstracts where both search terms are found.
Try using 'not'. This will help eliminate certain keywords from your search results.
Did you search in all indexes? Try picking just one.

What if I get too few results?

Check your spelling.
Did you use 'and' to combine search terms? Try using 'or' instead.
Did you limit your search with one of the optional search fields? Try searching again without the optional fields.
Did you use a plural search term? Try using the singular term instead.
Did you search in only one of the indexes? Try searching all.

Do you still have questions?
Ask a librarian! Call the Magazines and Newspapers Division at 614-645-2ASK(2275), or stop by an information desk today and a librarian will be happy to assist!

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Columbus News Index Obituary Search Tips

What am I searching?
When searching the Columbus News Index Obituaries, you are searching obituaries from the Columbus Dispatch from 1940 thru 1997.

Boolean Searches: Using AND, OR, and NOT will allow you to find more specific information.

AND Searches for obituaries that reference both words. For example: Tom AND Taylor.
OR Searches for obituaries that reference either word. For example: Tom OR Thomas Williams.
NOT Searches for obituaries that do not reference the second word. For example: Pat NOT Patricia Thomas.

Please Note: CNI does not allow for phrase searching. The search term �John Edward Smith� will be searched as �John� AND �Edward� AND �Smith�. The Boolean operator are added automatically.

Using the Wildcard:
If you are not sure of the exact spelling of a name, or you are looking for root names, the wildcard operator is useful.

The asterisk (*) can be used at the end a name as a substitute for any number of characters. For example, 'Ray* Smith' will find Ray Smith and Raymond Smith.

On a specific date: enter the same day in the 'after' and 'before' boxes (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is 10/12/1960).
After a specific date: enter a day in the 'after' box and leave the 'before' box blank (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is blank).
Before a specific date: leave the 'after' box blank and enter a day in the 'before' box (i.e. after is blank and before is 10/12/1960).
Between two dates: enter a start date in the 'after' box and an end date in the 'before' box (i.e. after is 06/10/1960 and before is 10/12/1972).
In a specific month and year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with the day of '01' like 06/01/1970 and an end date in the 'before' box with a day of '31' like 06/31/1970.
In a specific year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with a month and day of '01' like 01/01/1960 and an end date in the 'before' box with a month of '12' and a day of '31' like 12/31/1960.

What if I get too many results?

Try adding more of the name to the original search. For example, if the original search was only for a last name, try adding the first name and/or the middle name or initial.
Try adding the title (Dr, MD, PhD, Mrs, etc.) of the name to the original search.

What if I get too few results?

Check your spelling.
Did you limit your search with one of the optional search fields? Try searching again without the optional fields.
Try broadening your search by using the wildcard asterisk (*) operator.

Do you still have questions?
Ask a librarian! Call the Magazines and Newspapers Division at 614-645-2ASK(2275), or stop by an information desk today and a librarian will be happy to assist!

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Columbus News Index Advanced Search Tips

What am I searching?
When using the advanced search of the Columbus News Index, you are searching abstracts of articles from local newspapers and obituaries from the Columbus Dispatch. The advance search allows for combinations of keywords within the subject, byline, and/or abstract.

Refining Your Search:
The CNI search option allows for advanced Boolean and limited wildcard searching within each search field (subject, byline, and/or abstract) along with other keywords in other search fields. Queries search abstracts, bylines or subjects that librarians assigned to each article.

Boolean Searches: Using AND, OR, and NOT will allow you to find more specific information within each search field. There is an implied AND between each search field (subject, byline, and abstract).

Please Note: CNI does not allow for phrase searching. The search term 'Ohio State University' will be searched as 'Ohio' AND 'State' AND 'University'. The boolean operators are added automatically.

Using the Wildcard: If you are not sure of the exact spelling of a word, or you are looking for root words, the wildcard operator is useful.

The asterisk (*) can be used at the end a search term as a substitute for any number of characters. For example, 'light*' will find light, lights, lightning, etc.

On a specific date: enter the same day in the 'after' and 'before' boxes (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is 10/12/1960).
After a specific date: enter a day in the 'after' box and leave the 'before' box blank (i.e. after is 10/12/1960 and before is blank).
Before a specific date: leave the 'after' box blank and enter a day in the 'before' box (i.e. after is blank and before is 10/12/1960).
Between two dates: enter a start date in the 'after' box and an end date in the 'before' box (i.e. after is 06/10/1960 and before is 10/12/1972).
In a specific month and year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with the day of '01' like 06/01/1970 and an end date in the 'before' box with a day of '31' like 06/31/1970.
In a specific year: enter a start date in the 'after' box with a month and day of '01' like 01/01/1960 and an end date in the 'before' box with a month of '12' and a day of '31' like 12/31/1960.

What if I get too many results?
Try using 'not' between two words within a search field (subject, byline, abstract). This will help eliminate certain keywords from your search results.

What if I get too few results?

Check your spelling.
Did you use 'and' to combine search terms? Try using 'or' instead.
Did you limit your search with one of the optional search fields? Try searching again without the optional fields.
Did you use a plural search term? Try using the singular term instead.
Did you search in only one of the indexes? Try searching all.

Do you still have questions?
Ask a librarian! Call the Magazines and Newspapers Division at 614-645-2ASK(2275), or stop by an information desk today and a librarian will be happy to assist!

Return to top


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