Frequently Asked Questions
Researching: Selecting and Using Sources
How do I know if a web source is reliable?
Web sources located through a library web site are usually dependable. Information gathered on the Internet, without affiliation with a library or other organization, may not be as controlled, comprehensive, or permanent. However this does not mean you should discount the valuable sources that may be found on the Web.
If you do search the Internet, keep a critical eye on the kinds of sites you are retrieving. See the tutorials Internet Detective and Evaluating Information on the Web for more points to help you evaluate the quality of information on the Web. Evaluation criteria is based on a series of checklists, however in general it is best to apply a holistic approach to thinking critically about each source you use.
See the Online Reference page for a list of starting points for doing research on the Internet. My professor said "don't use the Web." Why? also contains more information on assignments which focus on printed library resources.