Evaluating Web Sites
by Lynne Freeman, Meyer Library

Authority:

Is there a name and an E-mail address on the page? Is the page affiliated with a university, government agency, or a reputable organization or group?

Content:

Is the information accurate? Is it factual or an opinion? Does it contain original material or primary sources? Is there a list of resources (bibliography) included? Is the site updated regularly? Are there links to other relevant sites?

Design:

Is the site easy to use? Do you have to scroll extensively? Is the text legible? Are the grammar and spelling correct? Is the background too cluttered? Are there useful headings? Do the links work? Do icons clearly represent what is intended? Does it have graphics and sound? Is the site easy to access at any time of the day?

Citing Web Sources:

On Missouri State University libraries select Selected Internet Resources and then select by Topic and Citing Electronic Resources for examples. There are books at the Reference Desk which show examples of how to cite electronic sources. One is listed below: Ref Off Li, Xia and Nancy B. Crane. Electronic Style: A Guide to Citing Electronic Information. Westport,CT: Meckler Corporation, 1993. Missouri State is an AA/EO Institution 3/98/CLF

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