CLIO Search Tips

Use one of these Search Box strategies: 

1) Simple Search

• By author, title, or subject 

• Connect multiple key words or ideas using BOOLEAN operators, such as AND, OR, NOT. (Learn more about how to use these connecting words for an effective search.)

2) Advanced 

• Facets (View and Filter) 

  • Types of Materials

  • Multiple subjects search

  • Dates and Regions

• Specific Databases or Sources

Key words are terms that show up anywhere in the text, including the title and the description. Adding terms will usually help to narrow your search results, as in this example where the searcher is looking for books located at Barnard, about Medieval Music performed in Churches. 

For Simple Searches

Using the 1st listed Search Box strategy from above (Simple Search), we will input a query for open browsing (when you have no specific title in mind).

1. To use CLIO, navigate to clio.columbia.edu
2. Use BOOLEAN Operators to identify Subjects & Location in the quick search bar. If you're only interested in book within the Barnard Library, be sure to use "Barnard" as your location.

   

3. Use the search results to identify the LC Call Numbers that you want to explore. The hits displayed from the search will give you call numbers such as ML178 C64, ML178 S65, PN1761 O38 2001, and so on. You can then use our maps and stacks guide to find the location of your item in the library. You can take one of the stack guide bookmarks at the Circulation and Help Desk!
4. Scan those locations to find one of the items in the search results, or browse more titles concerning those topics in our collection.

For Advanced Searches

Using the 2nd listed Search Box strategy from above (Advanced Search) We will input a query for advanced browsing (when you have a more specialized search in mind):

For this search we will use the key words Black, Feminist and Films.  But this time we want a video.=

With a more specific search like this, use the facets to find a group of items and refine your search by format, such as video or online, publication date, location, language, etc.