Catalog & Search Tips / Library Catalog Search Tips

Finds items that have the keyword(s) anywhere in the item record. 

Multiple Keywords: If you search for multiple keywords, the system automatically puts an "and" between each word, so each keyword will appear in the item records listed in the results, although not necessarily in the order that you typed them. Both of these examples will generate the same number of results: 

reformed trinitarian theology

reformed and trinitarian and theology

The only difference between the two is that the results for each will be sorted by relevency in a slightly different order. 

Phrases: To search for a phrase, put quotation marks around your search terms. . 

• example: "image of god" or "son of man"​

Searching for son of man will give you results for son and of and man, but "son of man" will only give you results that include the complete phrase

Wildcards: Using an asterisk at the end of a word will broaden your search to include multiple word endings. 

• example: environment* will include results for environment, environmental, and environmentalism.

You can also broaden your search by using a quotation mark in place of a single letter anywhere in a word.

• example: wom?n will include results for women and woman.

Sermons: To search the Sermon Index, do a keyword search that includes "sermon index" in quotation marks. Use Advanced Search to add a second search term like book of the bible, author's name, or topic.

• An advanced search for keyword:"sermon index" and "john XVI" will search for sermons about John, chapter 16.
• An advanced search for "sermon index" and spurgeon will search for sermons by Spurgeon
• An advanced search for "sermon index" and pentecost will search for semons about the topic of pentecost

Finds items that have the search term(s) in the subject heading. Subject Headings are official phrases established by the Library of Congress. 

Commentaries: To find commentaries on a book of the Bible, search by subject for bible  book of the bible  commentaries.

• example: bible mark commentaries

​If the book includes a number, like 1st Kings or 2nd Timothy, put the number after the book of the bible:

• example: bible kings 1st commentaries or bible timothy 2nd commentaries

To find commentaries about specific chapters, use Roman numerals after the book of the bible to indicate the chapter number.

• example: bible romans VIII commentaries will produce results for commentaries including sections about Romans, chapter 8. 

You can also search by large sections of the Bible, like the Pentateuch, Minor Prophets, Gospels, Epistles, and Pastoral Epistles. 

• example: bible minor prophets commentaries

To Find WTS DMin & ThM Theses: Use the subject heading Western Theological Seminary Holland Mich Theses

To Find Versions of the Bible: Use the subject heading Bible English Versions

• ie. Bible English Versions New Revised Standard