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Title Searches

There are three types of title searches in the CU Library Catalog-a Title search, a Journal Title search, and a Journal Title Abbreviation search. Title and Journal Title searches will retrieve titles which match the exact word order in which the search terms were entered. A Title search does not look for typed terms as keywords in the title field. If you don't have the exact title or only have the journal abbreviation, a Journal Title Abbreviation search will retrieve titles from the Cornell catalog that seem like they might match. Another difference between the types of title searches are the formats of materials each search retrieves. A general Title search finds books, videos, musical recordings, mixed materials, etc. and also serials. A Journal Title or Journal Title Abbreviation search retrieve only serials or materials that are published periodically, such as journals, magazines, newspapers, annuals, etc.

See the Search Type Comparison chart for an overview of all of the CU Library Catalog searches.

1. If desired, set Search Limits.

   Search Limits may be set before or after your search to restrict by year, language, item type, medium, location, and/or publication status. Search limits will remain valid for all Title and Keyword searches until you clear them.
   
   

2. Click Title, Journal Title, or Journal Title Abbreviation in the Search by: box.
   
   
3. In the Search for: box, type the search words or phrase. Omit punctuation.
   
   
4. If desired, choose a Quick Limit.
   
   
5. Choose the number of records to display per page.
   
   
6. Click Search.

• If you do not know the exact title of the publication, begin by doing a Journal Title Abbreviation search or a Guided Keyword Search on words you think are in the title.
• Omit initial articles (a, the, das, el, etc.) for all languages: enter petit prince for Le Petit Prince
• Punctuation, including commas, periods, apostrophes, colons, and quotation marks is not necessary. Enter hospitality 2000 the technology for Hospitality 2000: The Technology
• Do not use a truncation symbol (?). Searches are automatically truncated and retrieve records that begin with the words or phrases entered. It is usually better to enter fewer words from the title: a search on raindrop will retrieve records for The Raindrop, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, Raindrops Prelude, etc.
• Do not use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). (The words and, or, not may be used as part of a title phrase: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance or to have and have not).
• If your Title search is unsuccessful, try other spelling and number variations of title words: for organization also try organisation; for two, also try 2; for website, also try web site. Similarly, try initials, acronyms, or abbreviations of title words: for US, also try United States.