Quick Guide to Primo

Library Guides

Searching our Collections with Primo

Locate resources successfully by getting the most out of the Library's discovery tool

Quick Guide to Primo

This guide provides general guidance on how to use Primo to search for materials available in our Libraries, Special Collections and Museums. Primo contains records for both print and online materials across our modern and special collections.

Accessing Primo

Navigate to: https://abdn.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/

Members of the University: click on Sign in in the top right-hand corner and use your username followed by @abdn.ac.uk (e.g. u99jb22@abdn.ac.uk) and your password. This gives you access to extra services.

Screenshot of Primo landing page, featuring single search box. The sign in option in the top right corner is circled in red.

External members, visitors and members of the public: the search features in Primo are freely available to all users. External members of the Library can sign in with the barcode on their Library card and their PIN, to make requests and view their Library account. Other visitors to Primo are unable to sign in. Only University members can access our online materials through Primo. In all sites you will find PCs dedicated to accessing Primo.

Primo Search Rules
  • Boolean operators: combine your search terms using AND, OR, NOT

AND narrows a search, e.g. wellbeing AND exercise
OR broadens a search, e.g. sport OR exercise
NOT excludes unwanted results (but use with care!) e.g. earthquake NOT tsunami

  • Phrase searching: use double quotation marks to search for an “exact phrase”

e.g. “cognitive function”

  • Truncation symbol: expand your search using *

e.g. psychol* finds: psychology, psychological, psychologist, psychologists

  • Wildcard searching: use a question mark ? to find alternative characters within a word

e.g. wom?n finds woman, women

Simple Search Box

There are six search options within the simple search function:

  • All Collections searches all the categories given below:
  • Online Access Materials searches across our collections of online materials
  • Books+ searches physical books, e-books and journal titles held by the University of Aberdeen, including modern collections and the Special Collections Centre
  • Articles+ searches many of our electronic journal articles and our e-book collections
  • Course Reserves searches materials on particular courses
  • Rare Books, Archival Material and Museum Items searches Special Collections and Museums

Simple search

To find a specific book enter keywords from the book’s title and the author’s surname into the search box. Select Books+ from the list of suggestions that appears as you type. This will focus your search to only our physical and online books.

Pears, R. and Shields, G.J., (2016). Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. London: Macmillan Education/Palgrave.

Screenshot of Primo simple search function. The keywords: cite, referencing, guide and pears are being used. The screenshot is accompanied by the following note: Use some words from the book title and the author's surname as your keywords

Results

Results are displayed in order of relevance, according to the search terms used. From the options down the left-hand side of the results screen you can: 

  • change the order in which the results are arranged, e.g. Author or Date-newest (A) 
  • select a format, i.e. available online or held by the library (B)
  • determine the resource type, e.g. Books (C)
  • narrow your search to a specific branch, e.g. Medical Library (D) 
  • select a year range (Creation Date), specific subject area or language (E) 

Screenshot of results screen in Primo. Main portion of screen shows books relevant to the search. Left hand side of screen shows options for refining the search.

Checking availability 

  • Printed items: Primo displays "Available at" underneath the item's record - click on a title to check the item's availability and location
  • E-books: Primo displays "Available online" in records for e-books - click on a title to check full text availability 
  • The indication "X versions found" (F) can mean that we have multiple editions of a title, or, that a book is available in print and electronic format - click on X versions found to find out more

When looking at the details for a specific item, click on the large X icon on the left to return to the full list of results. 

Advanced Search

To carry out a search for materials on a subject, navigate to Primo's advanced search platform. 
Remember to apply Primo's search rules to search effectively. (See above for search rules) 
You can limit your search to specific document types by using the radio buttons, e.g. Books

Screenshot of Primo advanced search screen with multiple keywords in search boxes.

Finding Databases and e-book Collections

To explore available databases and e-book collections in your subject area use the Find Databases option at the top bar. 

Find Databases display in Primo. All Ebook Collections and All General Resources are highlighted on the left hand side.

Accessing Databases and e-book Collections

If you know the database or e-book collection you wish to search, enter its name into the search box. 

Screenshot of Database Search in Primo, showing they keywords Westlaw UK in the search box

Note: it is important that you Sign in to Primo before accessing any databases or e-book collections. 

My Library Card

Members of the University and external members: to view your borrower record, renew books or access saved records and previous searches, click on your name at the top right of the screen. 

Screenshot of My Library Card function in Primo with user's name and account options highlighted in red

  • To view your loans and requests, click Library Card. Click on the My Loans section to view and renew the relevant items. Please note that Heavy Demand items cannot be renewed online. 
     
  • To view your list of saved items, click on My Favourites. Items can be added to your favourites by clicking the pin icon to the right of the relevant record on the results list. 

Screenshot of book pinned to Favourite items in Primo account

Questions?

For IT-related queries contact the IT Service Desk: 
Tel: 01224-273636; Email: servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk

Library staff are here to help with any questions you may have on Primo or any of our other resources: 
For subject-related enquiries, please get in touch with the Information Consultant for your subject. Contact details can be found here. Tel: 01224-273330; Email: library@abdn.ac.uk

Revised by Eleni Borompoka in September 2023