Evaluating Web Sites: Source & Content

Source

1. Is the creator or maintainer of the page or site clearly identifiable?

2. Is contact information provided--address, phone, mailto link?  (You may have to truncate the URL as far back as the domain to find complete contact information.)

3. Does the page name a particular person as responsible for content?

4. Does the source have appropriate credentials or background to provide information on the subject?

5. Can you find any information about the source to guide you?

   1. Does the library have information about the person(s) or institution?

   2. Does the web page or site have a link to information such as "biography" or "about us"?

   3. Can you find information about the source in a good subject directory (see list), such as Librarians' Index to the Internet or Infomine?
       

Content

1. Is content objective in tone and presentation?

   1. Are points supported with objective information?

      1. If print sources are referenced in support, are they appropriate?

      2. If there are any hyperlinks, are they to respectable and appropriate sources?

   2. Are opposing views considered?

   3. Does the page or site have advertising?

2. Is the information timely and current?

   1. Are links all operative and to up-to-date material?

   2. Does the web page or site show date of latest review or update?

3. Can you find any evaluative information about the content?

   1. Is the web page or site reviewed or evaluated in

      1. - a good subject directory, such as Librarians' Index to the Internet or Infomine (see list)?

      2. - journals or books (check the library's databases of articles and the library catalog)?

      3. Is the subject of the web page or site covered, in other, reputable sources--web sites, journals, books--to which comparisons can be made? Check the library's databases of articles and the library catalog.