SPL Shorthand for Public Links
Link Builder
Create shortcut links to canned searches in the SPL catalog.
How to use shorthand:
Basics
The general format of these predefined search URLs is:
http://search.spokanelibrary.org/{{method}}/{{string}}
Where
{{method}}
is the type of search (e.g. artist){{string}}
is the actual search term (e.g my+favorite+band)
Just
- Choose a search method
- Type a search string
- Press Copy Link to Clipboard – done!
Booleans
You can also use and combine the logical operators and, not, or
– just tack on an operator and term(s) set seperated by the / symbol.
This is easier to show by example:
-
http://search.spokanelibrary.org/genre/jazz/or/blues
jazzor
blues -
http://search.spokanelibrary.org/genre/jazz/and/blues
jazzand
blues -
http://search.spokanelibrary.org/genre/jazz/and/blues/zydeco
jazzand
bluesand
zydeco -
http://search.spokanelibrary.org/genre/jazz/and/blues/zydeco/not/rock
jazzand
bluesand
zydeco butnot
rock
In order to keep the syntax relatively simple there is no provision for combining indexes.
Keep in mind that some Horizon indexes do not support boolean operators.
Truncation
You can use the truncation characters *
& ?
in your queries.
The *
works as an indefinite truncation (one or more letters), while ?
works as a single letter truncation (wom?
n).
More details in the Horizon docs.
Be careful with truncation if you are constructing these links by hand (i.e. not using the link builder tool).
The ?
character must be escaped to %3F
. The link builder tool will do this for you.
Auto Copy to Clipboard
The Copy to Clipboard button requires a little bit of Flash to work.
You may need to add search.spokanelibrary.org to your trusted sites if you are using IE on a staff terminal.
Tools » Internet Options » Security » Sites » Add
.
Spaces
Remember: It is always a good idea to use a + symbol instead of a space in your links. The Internet thanks you!
The link builder will do this for you though, so don't sweat it.
Let me know if you need additional search methods or have other suggestions.
-sg 2012/08/17
Available search methods:
-
Magazine Search
- General keyword search in the Adult Magazine collection
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/mag/cooking
-
Music Search
- Music title search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/music/kind+of+blue
- Music search by artist (author keyword)
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/artist/miles+davis
- Music search by genre (subject keyword)
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/genre/jazz
-
Movie Search
- DVD Search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/dvd/wordplay
-
Ebook Search
- General keword search w/ ebook limit
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/ebook/mystery
- Title keword search w/ ebook limit
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/ebook-title/startup
- Author keword search w/ ebook limit
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/ebook-author/connelly
- Subject keword search w/ ebook limit
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/ebook-subject/dogs
-
Spoken Audio Search
- Spoken recording search (discs & downloadable)
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/spoken/spokane
- General keword search w/ d/l audio limit (downloadable only)
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/dl-audio/spokane
-
Title Search
- Title keyword search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/title/being+and+nothingness
- Title starts with search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/title-starts/being+and+nothingness
-
Author Search
- Author keyword search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/author/sartre
- Author starts with search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/author-starts/sartre
-
Subject Search
- Subject keyword search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/subject/phenomenology
- Subject starts with search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/subject-starts/phenomenology
-
Series Search
- Series keyword search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/series/popular+culture+and+philosophy
- Series starts with search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/series-starts/popular+culture+and+philosophy
-
Call Number Search
- Call number starts with search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/call/111
-
Keyword Search
- General keyword search
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/keyword/philosophy
-
Default search (no
{{method}}
specified) - http://search.spokanelibrary.org/philosophy
-
ISBN Lookup
- Link directly to a known ISBN
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/isbn/9780374150853
-
BIB Lookup
- Link directly to a known BIB
- http://search.spokanelibrary.org/bib/190751
Note: The default search method is keyword, so you can omit the method identifier for a shorthand.
If you require logical operators however please use the full syntax.
Note: A limitation of the ISBN lookup is that NoveList content is not shown.
If you know the isbn it is probably better to get the BIB# and link using that method.
Note: http://www.spokanelibrary.org/bib/190751 still works.
It is the preferred syntax for linking directly to a specific title.
The http://search.spokanelibrary.org/bib/ method is just provided for consistency with the other search methods.