Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages

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Evaluation of Web Documents	How to Interpret the Basics
1. Accuracy of Web Documents Who wrote the page and can you contact him or her? What is the purpose of the document and why was it produced? Is this person qualified to write this document? 2.Authority of Web Documents Who published the document and is it separate from the “Webmaster?” Check the domain of the document, what institution publishes this document? Does the publisher list his or her qualifications? 3.Objectivity of Web Documents What goals/objectives does this page meet? How detailed is the information? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author? 4.Currency of Web Documents When was it produced? When was it updated? How up-to-date are the links (if any)? 5.Coverage of the Web Documents Are the links (if any) evaluated and do they complement the documents’ theme? Is it all images or a balance of text and images? Is the information presented cited correctly?	Accuracy Make sure author provides e-mail or a contact address/phone number Know the distinction between author and Webmaster Authority What credentials are listed for the authors? Where is the document published? Check URL domain. Objectivity Determine if page is a mask for advertising; if so information might be biased. View any Web page as you would an infomercial on television. Ask yourself why was this written and for whom? Currency How many dead links are on the page? Are the links current or updated regularly? Is the information on the page outdated? Coverage If page requires special software to view the information, how much are you missing if you don’t have the software? Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain the information? Is there an option for text only, or frames, or a suggested browser for better viewing?
Kapewn, Jim. “Teaching undergrads Web Evaluation.” College & Research Libraries News. 59 (1998) 522.

David Smith
Librarian
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