Information can be retrieved from the database in five different ways, even though these ways are integrated.

Search by shelfmark allows the user to single out the records pertaining to each manuscript starting from its shelfmark. With a first form search the user can select the area that he/she wishes to search: the manuscripts of the Malatestiana Library, those belonging to the Piana Library, those belonging to the Comunitativa Library or the Choral Books from Cardinal Bessarion and the Cathedral. In the following form search, in which the shelfmarks pertaining to the chosen area are displayed, the user may make three types of queries, retrieving, respectively, the bibliographic information, the descriptions and the images relating to the manuscript he/she is interested in. The results of the search are displayed on three distinct pages, and are ordered on the basis of the order criterion (alphabetical or chronological) that was selected. In the case a search by images was chosen, the page lists those images that are available divided into groups of 24 folios each. By activating the link pertaining to the group of folios that the user wishes to examine, a page containing the illuminations is displayed. By clicking on an illumination a window pops up in which the selected image is shown. By remaining within the window, it is possible to examine other folios of the manuscript by using the appropriate buttons to retrieve the images on the preceding or subsequent folios. With regards to the descriptions, an appropriate link, which is also present in the page where a response is provided for bibliographic information requests, displays the text in an independent window. For the historical catalogues by Muccioli and Zazzeri, which have been completely digitalized, the user can also opt for an inter-textual search that is similar to the one described for the manuscript images.

Simple search and Advanced search allow the user to perform a more complex search. By filling in a single string of the first query form you can access information contained in the whole database or a single field. The fields pertain to two distinct areas: the manuscript area (author and words in title) and the critical contributions area (author, words in title, periodical, date). The use of boolean operators and the possibility to search with exact or abbreviated terms allow further opportunity to combine and specify the users' search query. By filling in up to six different search strings of the second query form you can access the information contained in as many fields of the database. Moreover, by clicking on the appropriate button next to each field, it is possible to access the relative authority file, which is the list of indexed terms, and to import the desired entry word in the initial form search. The results are displayed on the response page that corresponds to the type of search that was selected (bibliography, descriptions or images) with the same modalities described above.

Search by lists allows the user to place him/herself (virtually) on the inside of the database authority files. In the first query form, after selecting a field in one of the two above mentioned areas and choosing one of the search types, you should type a word or a single letter/number or even leave the search string blank. In the third case the following query form displays the list of the indexed terms, in the first and second cases the list starts from the chosen word or character. It is then possible to make a query that, by using a logical or default operator, allows the user to see the results in a way that is similar to the other search modalities. To make a multiple choice you should press the keyboard control key and the left mouse key at the same time.

Search by images allows the user to get a list of the manuscripts (in shelfmark order) of which at least a digitalised image is available.