Searching with Google for Information on the MCB Website

When using a Google search (www.google.com) to find documents posted on the MCB website, try to use words or phrases verbatim as they’re likely to be found within the document. In addition, these search tips may be helpful. 

1. If you search using several words, all of the resulting documents will contain all of those words, but not necessarily together as a phrase.  For example, searching with Rocky Gulch Tree Farm will yield results containing those four words either together or individually within the document.

2. To find a document containing a specific phrase, put the phrase inside quotation marks.  For example, to search for documents containing the phrase Michigan Commission for the Blind, put quotes at the beginning and end, like this: “Michigan Commission for the Blind”

3. All phrases or words included in the search will be within each document found.  For example, if you want to find the agendas for all 2012 Michigan Commission for the Blind commission meetings, you can search using the phrase ”Michigan Commission for the Blind,” the phrase “Commission Meeting,” the word agenda, and the number 2012.  Here’s the sequence, including quotation marks where needed:

“Michigan Commission for the Blind” “Commission Meeting” agenda 2012

4. If you want to search for all documents containing a given word or phrase as well as all documents containing another word or phrase, put the word OR in all caps between the two items.  Other key words and phrases can be included in the search.  For example, to find all documents containing the phrase Michigan Commission for the Blind, the phrase College Policy, and the phrase MCB Report as well as all documents containing the phrase Michigan Commission for the Blind, the phrase College Policy, and the word minutes, use this sequence, which includes quotation marks where needed:

“Michigan Commission for the Blind” “College Policy” “MCB Report” OR minutes

5. If you want to omit from your search all documents containing certain words or phrases, use these words or phrases with a minus sign before each.  This is helpful when you’re searching with key words or phrases that have other meanings that are irrelevant to what you’re looking for.  As an example, a search using the word blind will yield documents regarding window treatments and hunting shelters as well as documents related to blindness.  To find documents containing the word blind but no documents containing the words window or hunting, use this sequence, which includes the minus signs:

blind -window -hunting

6. If your search results show fewer documents than you expected, go to the last page of the search results list.  If you find the following statement, you can click on the link to get a more complete list of documents:  In order to show you the most relevant results, we have omitted some entries very similar to the [number of documents] already displayed.  If you like, you can repeat the search with the omitted results included.

Using these tips, it’s possible to narrow your search results to a relatively small number of documents.  Results of your initial search will often show what words or phrases need to be excluded using a minus sign, or that other key words or phrases may be more productive in a revised search.  One key is to search using the exact words or phrases that are likely to be in the documents.  Here are some example searches:

· To search the MCB Braille and Talking Book Library In Focus patron newsletters for information on BARD (the Braille and Audio Reading Download program), use this sequence, which includes quotation marks:

“Michigan Commission for the Blind” “In Focus” BARD

· To search all 2010 and 2011 MCB commission meeting minutes for references to cafeteria certification, use this sequence, which includes quotation marks:

minutes “Michigan Commission for the Blind” “cafeteria certification” 2010 OR 2011

· To search MCB Insight staff newsletters for information on the VISIONS 2008 and VISIONS 2010 vendor fairs, use this sequence, which includes quotation marks:

“MCB Insight” “VISIONS 2008” OR “VISIONS 2010”

· To search for information on Mini Adjustment Programs conducted by MCB excluding the ones held in Detroit and Grand Rapids, use this sequence, which includes quotation marks and minus signs:

“Mini Adjustment Program” MCB -Detroit -"Grand Rapids”