HTML version

[Home] [Accuracy] [Authority] [Objectivity] [Currency] [Coverage] [Resources] [Worksheets] [Notes]

Evaluating Internet Sources & Sites: a tutorial

Currency

Being aware of the currency of the information given on a web site is pertinent to the overall evaluation of a site. The currency of the information presented is crucial if the top covered updates rapidly, such medical or travel information. However, keep in mind that not all types of information need to be dated within the last 6-12 months.

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? Find out more about copyright issues.
3. Are the resources used and information provided 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?

Choose one of these two sites to evaluate.

Is it easy to determine the currency of the site?
What did you do to determine the currency of the site?

The Onion
[http://www.theonion.com/]

The New York Times
[http://www.nytimes.com/]

© Jennifer Sharkey (sharkeyj@purdue.edu), Assistant Professor of Library Science and Information Integration Librarian, Purdue University Libraries
This tutorial may not be altered, changed, or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author.
Created: November 1998; Posted: March 1999; Revised: 13/Dec/2004
Base URL: http://www.lib.purdue.edu/InternetEval/