Library Teen Territory - Evaluation websites

Although the Internet offers access to a lot of information you might find useful in your research, the quality of information on the web is always in question. Because anyone can post information on the Internet, you must evaluate the content of a website very carefully before deciding whether or not to use it.

So, how do you know if you have a good website for your project? Here are some criteria that you can use to evaluate a website:

Authority: Who wrote the information? Is the author of the website a professional or expert on the subject?

Accuracy: Are the facts documented? Does the website list facts not opinions?

Source: Was the site created by a reliable source, such as a government agency, University or non-profit organization?

Objectivity: What is the purpose of the site? What is the author's point of view?

Currency: When was the site last updated? Are the links used active and the information up-to-date?

Coverage: Does this site address the subject you are researching? Is the information substantial?

Value: Is the site well organized and easy to use? Does the site offer anything unique, or insightful? Is the site free of careless errors, misspelled words, and poor grammar?

If you need to find information on the internet, review our Tips for Searching the Web. We've also put together some excellent sites by subject you can use.

Searching and evaluating websites can be very time-consuming. You may find information on your topic more quickly and reliably from our catalogue or library databases.

Barrie Public Library - 60 Worsley Street - Barrie, Ontario - L4M 1L6 - Phone: (705) 728-1010 - Fax: (705) 728-4322
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