1. Internet & Evaluation Frederic Murray Assistant Professor
MLIS, University of British Columbia
BA, Political Science, University of Iowa
Instructional Services Librarian
Al Harris Library
Intro to Information Literacy

2. The Internet is… a worldwide collection of computer networks
ubiquitous

3. Web Searching is easy because…..
Speed
Choice
Availability 24/7
Always get an answer

4. Web searching is difficult because …
Organization
Quality control
Reliability

5. Anatomy of a URL

6. Web Evaluation Techniques
Domain name appropriate for the content ?
Restricted: edu, gov, mil, a few country codes (ca)
Unrestricted: com, org, net, most country codes (us, uk)

7. Domain Names Which one is right? Whois.net .gov .org .mil .com .edu
Whois.net
.gov
.org
.mil
.com
.edu
.net
.int
Indicates a reliable domain name

8. Web Evaluation Techniques
Published by an entity that makes sense ?
News from its source?
Advice from valid agency?

9. Remember to Evaluate!!! Authority Who created it? Who is responsible?
What credentials do they hold? What makes them qualified to discuss the topic?
Accuracy
Can the information be verified?
Check the facts!
Objectivity
How is the information being presented?
Is it objective or biased? What’s the point of view?
Currency (important based on subject)
When was it published?
When was it last updated?

10. Step 1: Authority Web Pages Credentials/Qualifications/Reputation
Who is responsible for content?
Is it a commercial site?
Is it a government site?
Is it an education site?

11. Step 1: Authority: Questions
1. Who is responsible for the content? Domain name? What does this indicate?
If you don't recognize the name, or there is no name, what type of information is given about the contact information?
- Position?
- Organizational affiliation?
- address?
- Biographical information?

12. Step 2: Accuracy Web Pages Can the information be verified?
Links to credible sites
Copyright
Works Cited
Fact check with a printed source

13. Step 2: Accuracy
Does the website cite sources used to present its information? What type of sources are they? Scholarly? Popular?
Is it possible to verify the legitimacy of these sources?
If the site is research-based, does the website clearly identify the method of research and the data gathered?

14. Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?
Step 3: Objectivity
Biased or Objective?
Sponsoring Organization
Agendas
Political Propaganda
Web hosting
Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?

15. Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?
Step 3: Objectivity
Determine what is the aim of the author or organization publishing the site.
What is the purpose of the web site?
1. Is it advertisement for a product or service?
2. Is it for political purposes?
3. Is it trying to sway public opinion on a social issue?
Do you trust the author or organization providing the information?

16. Step 4: Currency Web Pages When was it created and last updated?
Well maintained web sites have an indication when it was last updated or modified
Accessibility
Dead links
Stability
Changes URLs frequently

17. Step 4: Currency 1. Is a date clearly displayed?
2. Can you determine what the date refers to?
When the page was first written?
When the page was first posted on the Internet?
When the page was last revised or updated?
The copyright date?
3. Are the resources used by the author current?
4. Does the page content demand routine or continual updating or revision?
5. Do the links on the page point to the correct Internet site addresses?

18. Remember to Evaluate!!! Authority Who created it? Who is responsible?
What credentials do they hold? What makes them qualified to discuss the topic?
Accuracy
Can the information be verified?
Check the facts!
Objectivity
How is the information being presented?
Is it objective or biased? What’s the point of view?
Currency (important based on subject)
When was it published?
When was it last updated?

19. Exercise: Evaluation Handout
Institute for Historical Review
Boston Dynamics
Havidol
Pinehearst Company
Investigative Dashboard
Breyer State University

20. Google Larry Page & Sergey Brin/ Grad Students 1998
Mission: "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.“
2007: 23 Billion dollar corporation

21. Google: Improve Your Searches
Site Specific Command
What it does: searches only specific domains
What to type: children's health site:edu
children's health site:gov

22. Web vs. Library Databases
Research Based Books & Articles
Full-text Resources
Authoritative & Peer-reviewed Materials
Information about People & Cultures
Easier to Search
AND, OR, NOT
Specific Subjects
Web
Good for current events
Statistical Information
Pop Culture
Opinion
Information about Organizations & Groups
Need to Evaluate!

23. Google Scholar
Google Scholar provides a simple way to search for scholarly literature. Search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations.

24. Google Scholar Works best for Citations Restrictions to Content
Fee-based
Often your Library already owns material
We’re working on improving access
Example: Tribal Colleges
Find: Tribal Colleges Gaining Digital Access to Worldwide Library Resources. A periodical search will take me to the article

25. Wikipedia
Wiki: A Web application that allows users to add content to a collaborative hypertext Web resource (coauthoring), as in an Internet forum, and permits others to edit that content (open editing).

26. Wikipedia Jimmy Wales January 15, 2001 No Original Research
NPOV (Neutral point of view)
No owners, multiple anonymous authors
Anyone with Internet access can create or edit an entry…Anyone

27. Wikipedia
Contributors: male, English speaking, denizens of the Internet.
Problem is not that it disregards the facts, but that it elevates them above all else.
Most of the content is discussion/history of edits & not the entries themselves.
Rosenzweig, Roy. “Can History Be Open Source? Wikipedia and the Future of the Past.” The Journal of American History (2006):

28. Wikipedia Participation maps popular, not academic concerns
It is a working community…but is it a good historical resource?
Lack of Critical Analysis
Problematic as a sole source of information
Like all encyclopedias…ok to start, terrible place to stop.
Benefits are to its active participants, not its readers.

29. Writing Your Paper Writing Center MLA Style
Located in the basement of the library
Call for appointment #
MLA Style
Style Sheets
MLA Handbook at Reference & Circulation Desk

30. Questions? Contact me: Frederic Murray 774-7113

31. Thanks!