Learner Guide: Wise Staff client Searching

Course overview

This course provides an in-depth exploration of search strategies and techniques tailored for the Wise platform.

 Note: This learner guide is designed to accompany the Wise Staff client: Searching course

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Navigate the search features of the Wise Staff Client.
• Perform basic searches using title, author, and keyword search methods.
• Apply advanced search techniques using Boolean operators, search syntax, and filters.
• Understand the use of Searchlight and Filter options to refine results.

Navigation and Filter Buttons

Understand the Wise Search features:

• Start returns the user to the search screen, once a search has been performed.
• Back and Forward take you to the next or previous screen of the catalog
• New opens the New Title screen so that a new title can be added to the catalog
• Clipboard opens the system clipboard to display title information that has been copied
• Searchlight is a filter that highlights search results that match selected parameters

Further documentation on this subject can be found here.

Basic Searching

Title Search

The Title Search allows you to find specific items by their title.

Steps:

1. Select Title from the search drop-down menu.
2. Enter the full title of the item. For example, search for Throne of Glass.
3. Double-click the correct format of the title from the results list.
4. The item records will populate.

Name (Author) Search

The Name Search allows you to search for items by the author's name.

Steps:

1. Select Name from the search index drop-down.
2. Enter the author’s last name, followed by the first name (e.g., Follett Ken).
3. You can also search by first name followed by the last name (e.g., Ken Follett).

Words Search (Keyword Search)

The Words Search is Wise's version of a keyword search, searching across all indexed fields.

Steps:

1. Select Words from the search index drop-down.
2. Enter one or more search terms. For example, search for climate change.
3. Note that Wise excludes single characters and stop words.

Advanced Searching Techniques

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators refine your searches by combining or excluding terms.

• AND: Narrows your search by combining terms (e.g., libraries AND technology).

• OR: Broadens your search to include either term (e.g., libraries OR archives).

• NOT: Excludes terms from your search (e.g., libraries NOT school).

Example:

Search for ("climate change" OR "global warming") AND (wildlife OR animals) AND (impact OR effect) to find resources on how climate change affects wildlife.

 Search Syntax

Wise also supports specific search syntax, similar to Boolean operators.

• Eco rose: Finds results containing both eco and rose.

• Eco / rose: Finds results containing either eco or rose.

• Eco !rose: Finds results containing eco but excludes those with rose.

Wildcards

Use the asterisk (*), a wildcard, to find variations of words. For example:

• eco* will find ecological, ecosystem, etc.

• reali*e will return results for both realize and realise.

Searchlight and Filter Features

Searchlight

The Searchlight feature highlights results that match selected parameters, making it easier to locate specific titles.

Steps:

1. Click the Searchlight button at the top of the catalog screen.

2. Set your searchlight criteria (e.g., branch, media type, language, fiction/non-fiction).

3. Results matching the criteria will be highlighted.

Filter

The Filter function allows you to narrow search results based on specific criteria such as media type, language, or publication year.

Steps:

1. Click the Filter button at the top of the catalog screen.

2. Set your filter preferences (e.g., filter by fiction, language, or age category).

3. The results will be narrowed to match the selected criteria.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Can’t Find a Title?

• Ensure the correct spelling and format (e.g., title vs. author) is selected.
• Double-check your subcatalog selection and branch filters.

Receiving Too Many Results?

• Use Boolean operators to narrow your search.
• Apply filters or adjust your searchlight settings to focus on specific branches, media, or formats.

Test your knowledge

1. True or false: The Wise catalog recognizes the asterisk (*). This wildcard can be used to truncate before, between or after search terms.
2. What search index allows you to search by author name?
   1. Name
   2. Author
   3. Words
   4. Author name
3. What advanced search options enables you to easily see which titles meet selected criteria?

1. Flashlight
2. Highlight
3. Spotlight
4. Filter

Answer key

1. True
2. A. Name
3. C. Spotlight

Additional information

• Wise documentation 
• Wise FAQ & Troubleshooting articles
• Wise Community Center
  • Connect with OCLC staff and peers using [Product name].
  • Share workflows and feedback, and submit enhancement requests.
  • Attend webinar events and keep up with product news