Because of the extremely uneven quality and instability of material on the Web, it is critical that Web users learn how to evaluate the material they find.  Read the following info for guidelines.  For further info follow the Wolfgram Memorial Library link found on the Widener University Web page (http://www.widener.edu).       

Checklist for an Informational Web Page - An informational Web page is one whose purpose is to present factual information.  The URL address of the page frequently ends in .edu or .gov. 

Questions to Ask About the Page - Note:  The greater the number of questions listed below answered “yes,” the more likely the source is of high quality.  The questions in Bold Type must be answered “yes” for the source to be of value in your research. 

Criterion #1: AUTHORITY

1.       Is it clear who is sponsoring the page?

2.       Is there a link to a page describing the purpose of the sponsoring organization?

3.       Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor?  That is, is there a phone number or postal address to contact for more information?  (An e-mail address is not enough to verify legitimacy.)

4.       Is it clear who wrote the material, and are the author’s qualifications for writing on this topic clearly stated?

5.       If the material is protected by copyright, is there a statement giving the name of the copyright holder?

Criterion #2: ACCURACY

1.       Are the sources for factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in another source?

2.       Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and other typographical errors? (These kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce inaccuracies in information.)

3.       Is it clear who has the ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of the material?

4.       If statistical data are presented in graphs and/or charts, are the graphs/charts clearly labeled and easy to read?

Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY

1.       Is the information provided as a public service?

2.       Is the information free of advertising?

3.       If there is any advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the informational content?

Criterion #4: CURRENCY

1.       Are there dates on the page to indicate: (a) when the page was written? (b) When the page was first placed on the Web? (c) When the page was last revised?

2.       Are there any other indications that the material is kept current?

3.       If material is presented in graphs and/or charts, is it clearly stated when the data was gathered?

4.       If the information is published in different editions, is it clear what edition the page is from?

Criterion #5: COVERAGE

1.       Is there an indication that the page has been completed and is not still under construction?

2.       If there is a print equivalent to the Web page, is there a clear indication of whether the entire work or only a portion of it is available on the Web?

3.       If the material is from a work that is out of copyright, has there been an effort to update the material to make it more current.

See the November/December 1996 issue of Computers in Libraries pages 49-55 for additional information.