Search

Search Tips

Type your query into the STePS box and click ‘submit’.

Put in a phrase you would ask as a normal question, such as 'what did the spending review do for science and technology in 2004?' or 'what is happening about AIDS in Africa?' Feel free to cut and paste significant pieces of text into the STePS box. The more conceptual information you provide, the better STePS works.

When looking at GovNet articles from the magazine section and from daily news stories, you’ll find a button that automatically searches for similar documents from across our libraries and from the public sector. When you click ‘go’ (or tab and return), STePS will present its 'A' list of suggested reading in précis form. Choose the item that’s most relevant or interesting, and a new window will open displaying the full document.

STePS automatically conducts a background search on your chosen document and presents (in the lower part of the new screen) a revised list of suggested reading tailored to the document you're looking at. If you click one of these new suggestions it repeats the action. This is a great way to assist lateral research!