Notes

Outline

Evaluating Web Resources 5 Major Criteria Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage

Accuracy Is the information reliable and error-free? Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information? Can you contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced?

Accuracy Rationale:   http://www.ihr.org Anyone can publish anything on the Web. Unlike traditional print resources, web resources rarely have editors or fact-checkers. Currently, no web standards exist to ensure accuracy. Know the distinction between author and webmaster.

Authority Is there an author?  Is the page signed? Is the author qualified?  An expert? Who is the sponsor? Is the sponsor of the page reputable? Is there a link to information about the author/sponsor? Can you determine the domain origin of the page?

Authority Rationale:    http://oncolink.upenn.edu It’s often hard to determine a web page’s authorship. Even if a page is signed, qualifications aren’t generally given. Look for a header or footer showing affiliation. Look at the domain. (.edu, .com, .ac.uk, .org., net)

Objectivity Does the information show a minimum of bias? Is the information factual or opinion? View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom?

Objectivity Rationale:   http://www.beefnutrition.org Frequently the goals of the sponsors aren’t clearly stated. Often the Web serves as a virtual “soapbox”. Be wary of advertising masked as information.

Currency Is the page dated? Is so, when was the last update? How current are the links?  Have some expired or moved?

Currency Rationale:  http://usatoday.com Publication or revision dates not always provided. If a date is provided, it may have various meanings.  For example: It may indicate when the material was first written. It may indicate a last revision or when it was first placed on the web.

Coverage What topics are covered? What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere? How in-depth is the material? Is it all images, or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly?

Coverage Rationale: http://www.usatoday.com/leadpage/about.htm Web coverage often differs from print coverage. Sometimes web information is just-for-fun or outright silliness Is it free, or is there a fee, to obtain the information?

Format and Presentation Is the information easy to get to?  How many links does it take to get to something useful? Is the target audience or intended users clearly indicated? Does the site have its own search engine? http://www.whitehouse.net

Evaluation Tools These tools work for both print and electronic sources Booklist  http://www.ala.org/booklist/ Choice  http://www.ala.org/acrl/choice/ American Libraries http://www.ala.org/alonline/ C&RL News http://www.bowdoin.edu/~samato/IRA/

Evaluating Print Resources Format Scope Relation to similar works Authority Treatment Arrangement Features and Cost

Evaluating Databases Currency and Coverage Access Points User Aids Interface Design Indexing Vendor support Cost