You can perform a basic search of our multimedia holdings by using the Search Box. Just type in your desired term or word(s)  and then click "Search" or hit the return key on your keyboard. (Note: Using more than one word will help you refine your search further, as the following example shows.)

Using phrases

If you use quotation marks ( " ) to bound your desired term or phrase, you will call up only those documents with that exact phrase.

You can, by the way, also use a minus sign ( - ) to specify a word that should be excluded in your search results. For example:

Limiting your search by ISN product or service

You can use the drop-down menu just above "Browse Information" to restrict your search within a specific ISN product or service -- e.g., Dossiers, Videos, IR Directory, etc. (Note: For the widest search possible, use "ISN".)

To accomplish more complex searches, click on the Advanced Search link. Once you enter the Advanced Search page, you will then be presented with multiple ways to refine your query. (Note: All of the fields in the large shaded box can be filled in singly or in combination, as you deem necessary.)

"With all the words"

If you use this option, our search engine will only return library holdings with all the words in the text.

For example, a search for “UN forces” will yield any items with the words “UN” and “forces” in it.

"With exact phrase"

If you use this option, the search engine will only return library holdings with the exact phrase you have entered.

For example, searching for “UN forces” will yield only those items which contain that exact term.

"With at least one of the words"

If you use this term, the search engine will return any library holding that contains the words you have specified.

For example, searching for “UN forces” will return any item with the word “UN” or the word “forces”.

"Without the words"

If you use this term you can define which words should not appear in your search results. Once again, this works by putting a minus symbol ( - ) in front of the word in the search field.

"Language"

By using this dropdown menu, you can search for documents in other languages. Please note that the preponderance of ISN’s library holdings are in English. We do, however, have German, French, Spanish and Arabic publications and/or ISN Blogs available.

"Region" and "Subject"

By using these dropdown menus, you can refine your search further by identifying the particular region and/or subject you desire.

Finally, the navigation bar at the top of the Advanced Search box allows you to tailor your search even more precisely -- i.e., it lets you restrict it to the specific products or services we provide. As the following navigation bar illustrates, you can 'quarantine' your search to the following categories -- "ISN, Publications, Dossiers, Articles, Audio, Video, Special Features and IR Directory.

In addition to the advanced search fields already discussed above, some of the categories have unique search properties that you can use.

"ISN"

As noted earlier, searching in "ISN" will yield you the widest search results. It is, for example, the only one of two categories that includes entries in different languages.

"Publications"

Publication-based queries can be refined by searching via title, description/abstract or author(s).

"Dossiers, Audio, Video or Special Features"

Searching in these four categories will restrict your results to the two ISN product lines and two media formats they represent.

"Articles"

Articles-based queries can be refined by searching via title and body text.

"IR Directory"

Entries in the IR Directory can be refined by title and description.