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In the most recent quarterly update, the navigation bar options when you first log on to WebDewey in CORC were divided into Search and Browse.  Can you give me some advice on when it's best to search and when it's best to browse? 

Often you can get to the information you are seeking either way, but in some instances it is better to use one than the other.  For example, when you aren't sure of the spelling of a term, you may want to browse rather than search: WebDewey searches on the exact spelling you provide, so if you've spelled the term incorrectly, you may get no search results at all.  But you will always get a result of some kind when you browse, because even if there is no exact match to the term you browsed for in a given browse index, you will be dropped into the place in that index where the term would fall if it were there. 

Alternatively, if you want to search even when you aren't sure of the spelling, you can do a search using masking or truncation symbols.  These will be discussed in a future tip; they are also covered in the WebDewey Help system.  When it comes to masking and truncation symbols, however, remember that those can only be used when you search, not when you browse.  The reason relates to the fundamental difference between browsing and searching.  A search looks for a term or terms that fall anywhere within a given WebDewey search index.  When you browse in WebDewey, it looks in one of two places, depending on the type of browse index.  Browse indexes that don't have "(KWIC)" in parentheses after their names compare the term or phrase you entered against the terms and phrases in the index, beginning at the left and going to the right, character by character. 

KWIC stands for Key Word in Context.  These browse indexes look for a word wherever it occurs in a phrase.  Browsing a KWIC index is useful when you aren't sure how a phrase will be indexed: is it "novels, Gothic," or "Gothic, novels"?  A KWIC browse on either word in the phrase will provide the answer. 

Browsing the Dewey numbers index can be useful when you know the base number and are looking for built numbers.  (Alternatively, you can search on the base number followed by an asterisk.)  The Relative Index browse index is also useful when you are looking for the interdisciplinary number for a topic, because you can verify that the index term is not subdivided.  Browsing is also useful when you are looking for a common word that might generate an overwhelming number of results if searched. 

Searching is useful when you have a distinctive keyword unlikely to generate too many results; when you are looking for something mentioned only in a note, Manual note, or caption (there are no browse indexes for those); and when you want to combine and/or exclude terms. 

Just as important as knowing when to search and when to browse is being aware of what the various search and browse indexes in WebDewey contain.  The best way to do this is to consult the topics "WebDewey search indexes" and "WebDewey browse indexes" in the Help system.  You may even want to print the charts that appear under those topics and keep them handy when you are using WebDewey.  They are reproduced here for your convenience. 

WebDewey search indexes

Index (label) Included Fields Example Tips/Why use?
All Fields (al:) All fields/data included in all indexes of the WebDewey database

cookies

Improve results when a search on another index produces too few hits. 
Find all occurrences of a term in the database. 

Dewey Numbers (dd:)

All Dewey entry numbers in the schedules, tables, manual, and Relative Index

610.73

Find all occurrences of a specific DDC class number. 
Use truncation to match all class numbers that begin with the same sequence of digits. 

Captions (cp:)

Words in the captions

bibliographies

Find a record for a DDC number when you know the caption or part of the caption. 
Determine whether a term is part of a DDC caption. 

LCSH (Editorially Mapped) (em:)

Words in the editorially mapped Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) only

online etiquette

Determine whether an LCSH term has been associated with a DDC class number by the DDC editors. 

LCSH (lc:)

Words in all Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) that have been mapped to DDC class numbers, either editorially or statistically

Achebe

Determine whether an LCSH term has been associated with a DDC class number, either by the DDC editors or by a statistical process. 

Relative Index (ri:)

Words in the Relative Index, including See Also and See Manual entries

health

Find records that encompass a subject in the context of various disciplines. 

Notes (nt:)

Words and Dewey numbers in the notes fields of the schedules, tables, and manual

saffron

Find special instructions regarding a subject or a class number. 

All Dewey (ad:)

All data included in these indexes: Dewey Numbers, Captions, Relative Index, and Notes

deity

Omit the mapped LCSH from the search. 

 

WebDewey browse indexes

Index (label) Included Fields Example Tips/Why use?

Dewey Numbers with Captions

All Dewey entry numbers in the schedules, tables, manual, and Relative Index.  Results show number and associated caption in Dewey number order. 

004.678

Browse for a Dewey number. 
Displays the Dewey number you entered in the context of all Dewey entry numbers in sequence, with captions. 
It is easy to navigate from the number you browsed for to others in the immediate vicinity. 

LCSH

Words and phrases in all Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) associated with Dewey numbers in the WebDewey database listed alphabetically by first word. 

Web

Browse for a heading by typing the first word (or several words). 
Include punctuation such as parentheses and hyphens to find an exact match for a specific heading. 
Displays the heading in an alphabetical list of all subject headings so it is easy to navigate from the heading you browsed for to others in the immediate vicinity. 

LCSH (KWIC)

Words in all associated Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) listed alphabetically in context. 

lions

Browse for a word that occurs anywhere in an indexed heading.  Displays headings that begin with the word, and then headings that contain the word in positions other than the beginning, in alphabetical order. 

LCSH (Editorially Mapped)

Words and phrases in the editorially mapped Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) listed alphabetically by first word. 

merlot

Browse for a heading by typing the first word (or several words). 
Include punctuation such as parentheses and hyphens to find an exact match for a specific heading. 

Relative Index

Words and phrases in the Relative Index, including See Also and See Manual entries, listed alphabetically by first word. 

telephone

Browse for an entry by typing the first word (or several words). 
Include punctuation such as parentheses and hyphens to find an exact match for a specific entry. 

Relative Index (KWIC)

Words in the Relative Index, including See Also and See Manual entries, listed alphabetically in context. 

bird

Browse for a word that occurs anywhere in a Relative Index entry.  Displays entries that begin with the word, and then entries that contain the word in positions other than the beginning, in alphabetical order. 

Last revised: 31 January 2004