[Wactclc-primo] Issue with title search in Primo

[Guidry, Wade]

Basically, the 'starts with' search takes into account any filing indicators present in the MARC record title field.

For example, in The Great Gatsby:

245	04$aThe great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The title (245) field sets the non-filing indicator of 4. Meaning that the first four characters of the title ('The ') should be ignored when 'filing' the card catalog by title in the cabinet.

And in the present day case, the non-filing value is considered by Primo when you search using 'starts with'.

You may also notice that PCI citations, like an article title, can be searched with leading articles, even in 'starts with'. Because PCI citations are not traditional MARC records, and don't include things like filing indicators.

Librarians will usually expect (and demand that) 'starts with' searches to take into account non-filing indicators and leading articles. Non-librarians, especially younger ones who never had to use a physical card catalog, will not be aware of that design. And will include leading articles in their 'starts with' searches.

Wade Guidry
WACTCLC
Library Consortium Services Manager
wade at bigbend.edu
http://www.wactclc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Wactclc-primo [mailto:wactclc-primo-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Farnham, Troy
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 4:12 PM
To: wactclc-primo at lists.ctc.edu
Subject: [Wactclc-primo] Issue with title search in Primo

I have came across an interesting issue while cross checking in Primo the new titles that we have added to Alma -


If a title begins with the article 'The' and if I try using the title search in Primo with the Basic Search Pre-Filters Label "that begin with" I will receive a "No items found" as the results but if I search "with exact phrase" or "contain my search terms" while including 'The' the item will appear in the results page.  The item will also appear if I omit 'The' while using "that begin with".


Has anyone else has came across this?


Thanks,


Troy Farnham

Lower Columbia College