Library Instruction Guidelines for Faculty. Evaluate Sources.

Whether you're using books, articles, documents, or Internet sources, you need to carefully evaluate your sources before using them. You need to find only the best sources that answer questions you have posed for yourself.Consider these points

How relevant is this source?
You don't have to be an expert to evaluate the work others have published. Scanning the table of contents of a book or reading the opening paragraphs of an article can help establish relevance.

Is this information current?
Outdated information will do nothing to prove a point about an issue that has changed due to policies or technology or other factors. Is the information current enough for your topic or do you need historical information? You have to decide.

For what audiences is it intended: general public, students or professionals? The language it is written in will help you decide if it is scholarly enough for your purposes.

What are the author's or producer's qualifications for this topic?
Information given about the author might help you decide how much an authority he or she may be on your topic. Determine whether the publisher, producer or distributor is a university, an alternative press or a private/political organization? Other Considerations.....

Is it presented clearly and objectively?

I Does the source show political or cultural biases?

Is a bibliography or other form of documentation included?