my @results   = Library::Data::Res->search_where(
                   information_type        =>      \@info_type,
                   format                  =>      \@formats,
                   starting_point          =>      \@topics
        );

SELECT id FROM res WHERE  ( ( ( format = ? ) ) AND  AND ( ( starting_p
+oint = ? ) ) )
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It looks like the "missing piece" between the two ANDs is where your information_type argument would go. Might @info_type be empty? Try commenting that one line out to confirm that fixes it.