Evaluating Websites

Anyone with access to a computer and room on a server can post a web site to the Internet. When looking for reliable and accurate information, you must decide which web pages are legitimate and which ones to be skeptical about.

The following 6 criteria are helpful in judging whether to trust the content of a website:

Authority:

Good, authoritative web pages include:

• Name of author, his credentials, references to other work, and contact information including E-mail or Postal address. An E-mail contact should always be present.
• Is the work original or borrowed work? Is the author relating first-hand experience or research?
• Information is drawn from credible, cited sources, not conjecture.
• Name of organization sponsoring the site and information about them. (Are they a well-known credible organization?)
• The physical location where work was produced. Check the web address (is it a reputable site?).
• Work related to or drawn from a reliable print source.
• References from library link catalogs such as Nashville Public Library's Recommended Links.
• Proper citations

Security of Site

• Does the site solicit or require personal information for registration?
• Does the site have a policy regarding the privacy of its visitors?
• Does the site sell personal information to other organizations?

Accuracy

• Is the information reliable? Are there spelling or grammatical errors?
• Is article well written and organized?
• Does the page link to the site's home page?
• Is page easy to read (good color/font)?
• Is article trying to sell a product or service?
• Does article solicit information or money from you?

Currency

• Is information dated?
• Is there a date on the page?
• What does it represent (date updated or creation date?)
• Are there dead links on the page?
• Is currency necessary to the topic?

Bias

• Are there advertisements on site? Determine the slant of the site based the author's or organization's affiliation.
• Sites should clearly identify sponsorships and advertising space on the website. Sites should also identify business relationships with businesses they link to.
• In News items: Editors choose certain news items over others. Events can be described very different based on the author or editor's points of view. To detect bias, compare news reports from a wide variety of outlets.
• Also, consider the source of information: Was in writer present at the event or were his sources? Does the author use information from officials or clearly biased sources?

Content & Scope

• What topics are included and to what depth?
• List of links or actual content?
• Is the site comprehensive or narrow?

Recommended Websites
Sites reviewed and recommended by Nashville Public Library staff.