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TSD / Cataloging and Metadata Management: Fundamentals of the NLM® Classification

Using the Online NLM® Classification

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Index Searching

Screen capture of the Navigation Bar Search Index

The index may be accessed from the NAVIGATION BAR by clicking on SEARCH INDEX.

Screen capture the Index Search drop down screen example

  • The user is taken to the beginning of the index pages (non-alpha)
  • To go to other index pages, the user may click on any of the index letters at the top of the page
  • The user may also use the search box to conduct a search. Users may search for: the main index heading, text and class numbers within sub-indexes (facets of main index terms), and cross references
  • The entire index page is not displayed as a whole. Users may click on page numbers to go to the next page of the index
  • As with the schedule searching, a drop-down menu is available to refine the index search. After entering search term(s), user may click on SEARCH or hit ENTER button. User can clear the search strategy once executed by hitting the X at the end of the search box.
    Three types are searches are available from the drop-down menu.
    • Startswith—search for word(s)/class number(s) that begins with search term; this is the default search
    • Exact—search for word(s)/class number(s) in exact order; Note: exact means just that. If you are searching for Electronic Data Processing, you will only find it if you search the complete thing. Searching Electronic or Electronic data in exact will not retrieve it.
    • Contains—search for words that appear in relative proximity
  • Note: Catalogs, Union and Union List appear in the retrieval set above for Books since Books appears in the subindex.


Last Reviewed: April 16, 2021