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Youth Fiction Finder Search Tips
What am I searching?
When searching the Youth Fiction Finder index, you are searching a collection of book titles owned by the Columbus Metropolitan Library (for grades Kindergarten - 12) that librarians have assigned to subjects which you can browse or search.

Refining Your Search:
The keyword search option allows for advanced boolean and wildcard searching. Searches can also be limited by publication date. Queries search juvenile/teen book titles and librarian-assigned subjects.

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

    AND Searches for books that reference both words. For example: Dogs AND Friendship.
    OR Searches for books that reference either word. For example: Dogs OR Cats.
    NOT Searches for books that do not reference the second word. For example: Animals NOT Cats.

Using Wildcards: If you are not sure of the exact spelling of a word, or you are looking for root words, wildcard operators are useful.
    * The asterisk is a substitute for any number of characters. For example, 'light*' will find light, lights, lightning, etc.
Limit Search by Copyright Year:
To limit your search by copyright year, enter a year in both the 'From' and 'To' boxes. Copyright dates must be numeric and entered in the form of yyyy (i.e. 1987).

To find books...
  • In a specific year: enter the same year in the 'From' and 'To' boxes.
  • After a specific year: enter the after year in the 'From' box and the present year in the 'To' box. (i.e. 'From' is 1960 and 'To' is 2009).
  • Between two years: enter a start year in the 'From' box and an end year in the 'To' box (i.e. 'From' is 1960 and 'To' is 1972).
What if I get too many results?
  1. Try combining search terms with 'and.' Using 'and' will result only in books where both search terms are found.
  2. Try using 'not'. This will help eliminate certain keywords from your search results.
What if I get too few results?
  1. Check your spelling.
  2. Did you use 'and' to combine search terms? Try using 'or' instead.
  3. Did you use a plural search term? Try using the singular term instead.
  4. Try browsing subjects, instead of searching for books.

Do you still have questions?
Ask a librarian! Call the Center for Discovery at 614-645-2ASK(2275), or stop by an information desk today and a librarian will be happy to assist!
Columbus Metropolitan Library       96 S. Grant Ave.        Columbus, OH 43215        614 645-2ASK (2275)
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