Standard Search is a basic keyword search method that allows patrons to search by subject, title, author, or anywhere in a record. To help patrons search successfully, Standard Search supports the AND, OR, and NOT Boolean operators as well as truncation (*), wildcards (?), and phrase searches (“ ”). If a patron searches and no matches are found, a list of indexed entries displays the closest alphabetical match for the keyword.

 

Enhanced Search is a more advanced search method that offers search flexibility and options. Patrons can enter simple or complex keyword searches, then select the fields and Boolean operators for the search. As in Standard Search, a list of indexed entries displays if no matches are found, and a patron can click a “Browse” button to view the list. This method also offers customizable drop-down lists of search fields, allowing librarians to choose which fields of the MARC record are searchable.

 

Visual Search is an easy point-and-click search method. Patrons click graphical buttons to narrow their searches from broad topics to more defined sub-topics, ultimately reaching search results. Sub-menus buttons may launch search queries and/or access different applications or Web pages. M5 includes over 60 pre- configured topic and query buttons.

 

The Visual Search interface is easily customized. Captions and pictures can be added to the buttons, and buttons can be added or deleted. The number of levels before a search results list appears can be increased or decreased. Animation, sound, and visual properties on all button menus can be globally or individually modified, enabled, and disabled.

 

 

Search results display each title with availability, material type, bibliographic information, and call number. The librarian can modify these display defaults and define whether patrons can save, print, view cover images, add items to My Bookbag, and more.

 

“See” and “See also” cross-references display at the top of the search results, leading patrons to subjects related to the search.

 

 

In the record details, Shelf Browse allows patrons to quickly locate records with similar call numbers. M5 retains all search strings for the duration of the search session. The system allows the patron to move backward and forward in a search, exploring alternate paths without having to retrace the entire original search.