The Categories
In common with other location libraries, Location X uses 99 general location categories, the maximum most of us can remember! Location X is also searchable by special collections which may cross several categories e.g. "wooden floors" or "Art Deco". This system (also used by Location Works) is now being adopted across the UK & Europe to provide a unified search system. By 2009 researchers will be able to view most of the location sources in Europe via a single portal, The Location Source.
You may search the on-line library by:
a. Using the Categories.
This displays the categories in a Dewey–decimal type display.
The images on the category page are thumbnails: one representative shot of that location. Clicking on this thumbnail will take you to a location page. Images from the same location will often appear in different sections of the library: the sitting room may appear in the sitting rooms category, the kitchen in the kitchens category. If you need a sitting room and a kitchen, follow the links and have a look at the location page to see all the pictures of that location. At the bottom of each location page you may see an "also listed in" menu offering the other categories in which this location is listed.
Sometimes a "see also" list will suggest a related category which might contain similar looking locations within a completely different category, eg. a search for a White Gallery Space might lead you to Galleries, or Photographic studios, Rehearsal spaces or Lofts.
The "Categories" index is primarily for users familiar with the system and its categories. For Location X virgins the "Alphabetical search" is probably more immediately obvious.
b. Using the Alphabetic index
The alphabetic index helps you identify the category code in alphabetical order but still takes you to the relevant category page with sample shots of locations. Up to ten locations are shown on a single category page, however you may be invited to view more pages within the same category.
c. Using the Keyword search
The search engine allows you to enter keywords. The keywords include the geographical area, so you could search for "Devon" to see locations in Devon. However our geography keywords are fuzzy - there's no point in entering "Hampstead" because we don't give that information away; enter "North London" instead.
If you enter more than one keyword, you should select between any or all keywords. Searching for "Devon" or "lighthouse" will bring up a different list to searching for "Devon" and "lighthouse". If you've set all keywords, and you don't get any matches, try changing to any keyword. If you've set any keywords, and get too many matches, try changing to all keywords.
Additionally, the keywords will include qualities, so you might search for "white studio London", or "cliff Scotland". Finally, each location is given a unique reference number. If you know that number, simply type it in to the "key word search" field to go straight to that location. All the locations viewed will appear in the "recently viewed" list on the left of the screen so you will always be able to come back to any you have opened.
Using a location: Contact us, by telephone or e-mail, to discuss your location requirements. Provided you qualify as a bona-fide location researcher, we will establish your available budget, the availability of your chosen locations, and, if appropriate, set up a recce.
When using Keyword search:
- Separate multiple keywords with spaces.
- Enclose phrases in "quotes".
- Avoid plurals.
- Keywords are not case sensitive