How to Use Primo - The CT State Library Discovery Tool

The advanced search allows users to search a specific field or fields that appear in the record. To open the advanced search, select Advanced Search to the right of the search box. 

Advanced searching gives the user more control over the search by selecting specific words that should appear in a given field. 

When your search results appear, you can refine your results using the options on the left of the screen. See our simple search page for additional information about refining results(left navigation menu). 

Also called "Search Scope"

• CT State Library (CSL) - we have the search tool set to CT State Library (CSL) library catalog when you first open up Primo from our web site. This setting searches what is traditionally found in a library catalog: our books, government publications, titles of journals and newspapers (but not the articles), maps, some of our database content (requires CSL library card to access) - in many formats (online, in print, microforms, etc.).
• CSL Catalog, Plus Articles - this searches our catalog (like above) plus many articles from a collection set by Primo. Some are freely available, some require our library card, and a few might not be available. For those not available, you can bring the citation information to your local library and ask them to help you. CT State Agencies should contact us. We have additional databases available on our A-Z Databases page. 
• Middletown Service Center - this option is for libraries in Connecticut. Materials are available only for CT libraries. CT library staff, please contact them with questions.
• CSCU Library Consortium - searches across all catalogs of Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Library Consortium, consisting of Connecticut’s 12 community colleges, four state universities, Charter Oak State College, and the Connecticut State Library.
• Electronic Resources - searches online items in CSL collections as well as articles available through selected sources. We have additional databases available on our A-Z Databases page.