Basic Searching Using PrimoThe "New" Library Catalogue Interface

What is Primo?

Primo is not your traditional library catalogue. PRIMO is what is called a “discovery layer” which provides a Google-like interface to searching for resources in the library catalogue, Rare Books and Special Collections, cIRcle (UBC’s Institutional Repository) and digital collections.

This guide will provide you with the following basics of using Primo for your research:

Performing a basic. Refining searches by using facets (i.e. limits) Using quotations marks to find an exact phrase (e.g. “ “).

Performing a Basic Search

Unlike the old library search interface, Primo allows you to search the library catalogue without using the “AND” between keywords. Primo, like Google, assumes “AND” between every term you use.

For example, if you want to search for “feminist activism in Canada,” in the old catalogue you would have to put “AND” between every term to make the search work (e.g. feminist AND activism AND Canada). With the new Primo interface, “AND” is assumed and you can perform the search, for example, feminist activism Canada, and you will find results.

WWW.LIBRARY.UBC.CA

Primo – UBC Libraries “Search and Discovery Layer”

Searching for an Exact Phrase

To search for a title or exact phrase in Primo, you need to use quotation marks.

For example, if you wanted to perform a search for The Feminine Mystique

A search without the quotations will be understood by Primo as this: the AND feminine AND mystiqueThis will pull up all records that contain any of these words.

If you search using the quotation marks: “the feminine mystique”The search will pull up records that contain the words only as an exact phrase. This will provide you with a more precise result if you are searching for a specific resource.

Using Facets (Limits)

Primo provides you with a new function of narrowing down your search results after you have performed a search. To narrow down your search, you need to use the facets.

WWW.LIBRARY.UBC.CA

The “Refine My Results” (i.e. facets) section allows you to narrow (i.e. limit) your search by availability, location, topic, author/creator, date, type of resource, language and classification.

You can use as many limits as you need simply by selecting the link(s). The more limits you use, the more narrow your search results will be.

*Tips* If you don’t remember the exact spelling of a term, Primo will provide options for the correct spelling through the “Did you mean” spell checker.