Refining OneSearch Results

Filtering Search Results

After you execute a search, a set of results will be displayed. As with many search engines, you can refine or filter your results using filtering controls or "facets" listed in the sidebar. Options include refining by location, availability, resource type, publication/creation date, subject, and language. Result filters may be used individually or combined with each other to define a specific set of results that best suits your research needs.

Adding Filters

To add a single filter, click on the desired facet listed in the sidebar. To add more than one, hover over each desired filter, click the checkbox next to it, and then select Apply Filters at the bottom of the column. 

Applying Negative Filters

You can also exclude types of results that you know are not likely to be useful. For example, you may want to find articles that are NOT book reviews. If a negative filter option is available it will appear as a red checkbox with a line through it when you hover over the facet. 

Removing and Resetting Filters

Once you have selected result filters, you will see them listed in the sidebar under Active filters. You may remove individual filters or reset your search to its initial unfiltered state.  You may also use the Remember all filters option to make your selected filters persistent as you change your search terms or other parameters.

Strategies to Narrow your Search

OneSearch will often return many more results than you need, especially if you are using the default "Everything" search scope. Some common strategies to refine your results include:

• Online resources only. Under Availability select the Available online facet to find only works that are available in digital formats.
• Physical items only. Under Availability select Available in the Library to find books or other items available on the shelves.
• Exclude book reviews. Academic journals often publish reviews of books, which will appear in search results with the same title as the book. To filter out reviews, under the Resource Type facet use a negative filter on Reviews, or simply restrict results to Books.
• Peer-reviewed journal articles. Under Availability select Peer-reviewed journals, and under Resource Type select Articles.

Searching beyond Adelphi’s Holdings

If you don’t find what you are looking for, try selecting the “Expand beyond Adelphi Holdings” option in the search results sidebar. Results found in this expanded search may be held in other libraries and may be obtained via Interlibrary Borrowing. 

In the sidebar you will also find options to repeat your search in external bibliographic databases we share data with, including ConnectNY, WorldCat, and Google Scholar.