Library 101 Evaluating Information Sources

	General Evaluation Critieria	Evaluation tips for the Web
#1: PURPOSE	What is the author's goal? What is the purpose of the publication? To inform? To sell or advertise? To entertain?To persuade?	Web sites can be misleading in their stated or implied purpose. Look carefully for hints that reveal the site's purpose. Many sites are supported by advertising that might skew the content.
#2: AUTHORITY	Who is the author and what are his or her qualifications? Who is the publisher?	It may be difficult to determine authors & their qualifications Publisher responsibility often not indicated
#3: ACCURACY	Is the information accurate? How does it compare with other information?	Almost anyone can publish on the Web Many Web resources not verified by editors and/or fact checkers
#4: OBJECTIVITY	Is the information biased? Does it promote one perspective above others?	The Web sometimes functions as a virtual soapbox Goals/aims of persons or groups are often absent or unclear
#5: CURRENCY	Is the information recent enough for your needs?	Dates are sometimes absent or inaccurate on Web pages If included, a date may have various meanings: first created; placed on Web; last revised
#6: COVERAGE	Is the source complete enough for your needs? Is any information missing?	Often less in-depth than print or other media coverage Web coverage may provide unique features not available elsewhere

This page is maintained by Lynn Kanne