Simple search notes
The database which holds the web-based catalogue is EZDB, a freely available PERL programme (from www.ezperl.com). The Advanced Search page will allow access to all its capability but in practice the limitations of simple search are unlikely to be significant given the relatively small size of the catalogue.
Results which appear odd can occur in whole-catalogue searches because, for example, names can appear in the Illustrator field or in the explanatory Notes. Also searches are not whole-word. Thus "smith" is found in the author Goldsmith and the title 'Silversmithing'.
Searches in the Keywords field are AND searches to allow you to look for 'Folk tales' for example. But if you enter 'Folk Tales' 'Fairy Tales' in the simple search box, you will only find those to which we have assigned both categories. As the assignment of keywords is an imprecise art and it is hard to be absolutely consistent, you would be best to try a variety of different searches.
Finally, the Advanced Search page will shortly allow you as much flexibilty as the database allows, but it will be harder to use.