Being able to quickly and critically evaluate references to library and Internet materials is a very useful skill. Academic libraries and the Internet are large and very dynamic resources. There are so many different types of information available that identifying and evaluating quality resources can sometimes be difficult. Library and Internet collections grow in very different ways...
In Libraries
On the Internet
Use the criteria listed below, and your search experience, to improve your ability to quickly and efficiently identify and evaluate library and/or Internet information references and resources.
|
Evaluation
Criteria |
|
| Accuracy or credibility | Is the information provided
based on proven facts? Is it published in a scholarly or peer-reviewed publication? Have you found similar information in a scholarly or peer-reviewed publication? |
| Author or authority | Who is the author? Is she or he affiliated with a reputable university or organization? What is the author's educational background or experience? What is their area of expertise? Has the author published in scholarly or peer reviewed publications? Does the author/Web Master provide contact information? |
| Coverage or relevance | Does the information covered
meet your information needs? Is the coverage basic or comprehensive? Is there an "About Us" link that explains subject coverage? How relevant is it to your research interests? |
| Currency | When was the information
published? When was the Web site was last updated. Is timeliness important to your information need? |
| Objectivity or bias | How objective or biased is the
information? What do you know about who is publishing this information? Is there a political, social or commercial agenda? Does the information try to inform or persuade? How balanced is the presentation on opposing perspectives? What is the tone of language used (angry, sarcastic, balanced, educated)? |
| Sources or documentation | Is there a list of references
or works cited? is there a bibliography? Is there information provided to support statements of fact? Can you contact the author or Web Master to ask for, and receive, the sources used? |
| Publication
and Web site design |
How well designed is the Web
site? Is the information clearly focused? How easy to use is the information?? How easy is it to find information within the publication or Web site? Are the bibliographic references and links accurate, current, credible and relevant? Are the Contact addresses for the author(s) and Web Master(s) available from the site? |
The following sites provide evaluations of selected Internet resources.
| Web Site Reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name of Site, URL | Search Methods | Features |
| The Scout
Report |
Browsable Menus, Keywords, Boolean, Proximity | The Scout Report provides evaluations each week on a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources. Sites are selected based on the quality of the content, authority, information maintenance, presentation, availability and cost of access. |
| The Librarians Index to the Internet | Browsable Menus, Keywords, Boolean | The Librarians' Index to the Internet (lii.org) is a searchable, annotated subject directory of more than 10,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. lii.org is used by both librarians and the general public as a reliable and efficient guide to Internet resources. |
| Exercise: |
| Use the Web Site Evaluator, a fun and interactive resource to help you critically evaluate Web information. |
Last updated
01/09/2003
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Please send comments or suggestions to: Carol Hansen,
Instruction Services Librarian.
