How to Search and Browse Materials on MERLOT

MERLOT (merlot.org) provides two main ways to find learning materials: a search bar with basic and advanced options, and a browsable collection organized by discipline. You can search by keyword, switch between searching materials and members, and refine results with filters on the left side of the results page. Browsing by discipline or academic support area is the better choice when you want to see what exists in a field rather than look for something specific.

Searching the Collection

MERLOT's search sits at the center of the homepage and supports several input types.

• Basic search: Enter a keyword or phrase in the main search box. By default, results return materials.
• Materials vs. Members: Use the "by: Materials | Members" toggle to switch what you're searching. If you enter an email address, MERLOT will ask whether you want to search for members instead — choosing "No" displays materials first.
• ISBN search: If your entry looks like an ISBN, MERLOT prompts you to confirm whether to search using it as an ISBN. This is useful for locating materials tied to a specific textbook.
• Advanced search: The "Advanced Search Options" link opens two separate tools — "Advanced Material Search" and "Advanced Member Search" — for more targeted queries.

Refining Results

After a search runs, the results page offers filters on the left side. Use these to narrow by criteria such as discipline or material type. The exact filter set depends on your query, so start broad and narrow down rather than trying to build a perfect query first.

Browsing by Discipline

If you don't have a specific title in mind, browsing is often faster. MERLOT organizes its collection into discipline areas, each with its own portal:

• Arts
• Business
• Education
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Science and Technology
• Social Sciences
• Workforce Development

There are also Academic Support Services portals for topics that cut across disciplines. The "Browse All Materials" link lets you see the full collection without picking a discipline first. A Discipline Index and RSS feed are also available from the browse area.

What You'll Find

The collection contains a mix of resource types, including:

• Learning resources and learning exercises
• Bookmark collections
• Course ePortfolios
• Peer-reviewed materials (MERLOT publishes peer review information)

As of the site's published metrics, the collection lists 111,556 learning resources, 226,437 registered members, and 4,446 member institutions.

Adding Your Own Materials

If you find or create something worth sharing, MERLOT accepts submissions through "Add a Material." You can also build multi-page websites with Content Builder, which the site describes as free to use, and create a Course ePortfolio. A video tutorial is linked from the Content Builder section.

Quick Reference

Both searching and browsing are open to visitors; creating materials and joining the community require a free account via Sign Up.