Why am I getting HOLLIS results that don't include all of my search terms?

HOLLIS generally searches only the words that display in the record. There are, however, a few exceptions specially designed to improve your search experience.

Why you may be getting unexpected results

• your search terms included a common misspelling or an alternate spelling of a word that does appear in the record
• your search terms matched to a separately linked table of contents
• the record includes a common synonym for your search term 
• your search terms matched a hidden cross-reference (details below)
• your search terms matched to the full text (see Note: HOLLIS searches only some full text on the HOLLIS User Guide)
• your search query uses the OR operator

More about HOLLIS’s hidden cross-references

For search purposes, HOLLIS's Library Catalog records are enhanced with alternate names, subjects, and series. These additional terms are drawn from controlled authority records, such as those maintained by the Library of Congress. The terms are searched, but not displayed in the record.

For example, a search for “landscape architecture” will return this master’s thesis on landscape architecture, even though those terms are not present in the displayed record. This is because HOLLIS has cross-referenced the name “Harvard University. Urban Design Program” to the name “Harvard University. Department of Landscape Architecture. Urban Design Program.”

You can access these terms from the HOLLIS record: there is a link to “View source (MARC)” just above the access information in our Library Catalog records.

If you encounter a problematic cross-reference, please Ask a Librarian for possible workarounds.

Have another HOLLIS question? Our HOLLIS User Guide provides an overview of HOLLIS's features and functions.