Click on a
topic for more information. If you require further information
please contact us: touchstone@bham.ac.uk
Database
contents
The Touchstone Database includes descriptions of significant UK Shakespeare
collections. The descriptions are at
collection level but where possible they are linked to online catalogues. There are currently 4 repositories contributing
to the database:
 |
The Shakespeare Institute
Library |
|
The Shakespeare Centre Library |
|
Shakespeare
Birthplace Trust Records
Office |
|
Birmingham
Central Library |
The
records include descriptions of Archives, manuscripts, printed books,
electronic data.
The descriptions are at the collection level and you will therefore
not find reference to individual books or articles.
Simple
search
You can perform a simply search by
inputting search term(s)? into the first search form.
|
Enter
your search term or search terms separated by spaces |
|
A
space is, by default, treated as AND, so that the query Branagh
Hamlet returns collections containing the words Branagh and
Hamlet |
|
Click
on the Search button |
More complex searches can be built
using Boolean expressions.
Using
Boolean expressions
Boolean terms are words that generate
specific search results. The
terms are;
|
AND
- finds records that contain all search terms.
Used to limit a search |
|
OR -
finds records that contain any search terms.
Used to broaden a search |
|
NOT -
retrieves records that contain the first term but not the second
term |
It is possible to use more than two
terms. Eg.
Branagh and Hamlet and
Coriolanus
If combining AND and OR Boolean terms
you need to use round brackets to ensure the terms are searched for in
the required sequence. The
bracketed relationship will be searched for first and then combining
with the term outside the
brackets. Eg.
(Hamlet or Coriolanus)
and Branagh
will find records which contain
Branagh and either Hamlet or Coriolanus
Hamlet or (Coriolanus
and Branagh)
Will find records which contain
Hamlet or both Coriolanus and Branagh.
Advanced
Search
Advanced searching enables you to
limit your searching to particular fields, and browse the search terms
contained in each field. The
fields include: collection description, subject, personal name,
corporate name, place, repository, format, date.
Searching in a
single field
|
Select
a field from the drop down menu |
|
Type a
search term |
|
Click
on ‘Submit’ |
Eg.
Select Personal
Name from the drop down list and enter a name, eg. Branagh
Combining fields
You can search for up to 3 terms
simultaneously by entering a term in more than one of the three search
boxes.
Eg.
|
In the
first box, select Personal Name field and enter Branagh |
|
In the
second box, select Repository field and enter Shakespeare
Institute Library |
This search will find all references
to Branagh in the records submitted by the Shakespeare Institute
Library.
Browsing
Search Terms
|
Select
a field from the drop down menu |
|
Click
on the ‘Browse terms’ option at the right of the search box. |
|
A list
of relevant terms is displayed.
Click on a term and the selected term will automatically
be included on the search form. |
Results
Screen
Sorting and
Ranking of results
The results are ranked alphabetically
by title
|
Click
on a title to display the results record. |
Summary Record
The results display gives a summary
of the significant fields and the location of the collection.
Full Record
Display
To display the full record display
select Full Record.
Printing/Downloading/Emailing
results
Under construction
|
