Selection Criteria

Evaluating Print Resources

Content

  • Currency

    Date of publication is very important. Resources that discuss treatment options must be current.

  • Balance

    Does the author provide a balanced viewpoint?

  • Comprehensiveness

    Is there in-depth coverage of the topic?

  • Documentation

    Are supporting references cited and up-to-date?

  • Ease of Use

  • Organization

    Is the content well organized? Is it easy to find needed information?

  • Readability

    Who is the intended audience? What is the literacy level?

  • Index

    Is a well organized index included?

  • Glossary

    Is a glossary of terms provided when needed?

    • Author Qualifications
    What are the author's qualifications? Are they relevant to the research?

    Appearance
    Consider the physical characteristics. Binding, size, print size, layout.

    Scope
    Is the topic covered as intended? Does it meet the needs of the collection?


    Evaluating Web Sites

    Scope
    What is the mission of the site? Does it accomplish this mission? Is it stated? Is the primary purpose of the site informational or advertising?

    Authority
    Is the author clearly identified? Is there an institutional affiliation? What are the author's credentials? How knowledgeable is the author on the subject (educational background, past writings, experience)? Is contact information included in the document? Has the site been reviewed by outside sources?

    Organization
    Is the site graphically well designed? Is the content well organized? Is the arrangement of the content quickly and easily understood? Is it logical and easy to locate needed information? Is the format (text, graphics, audio and video) appropriate for the subject matter?

    Content
    Is the content substantive? Comprehensive? Unique? Accurate? Does it meet the needs of the intended audience? Is the information objective or is there evidence of subjectivity or bias? Is it easy to read? Are there spelling and grammatical errors? Is the integrity of the original source preserved?

    Currency
    When was the page created? Is it regularly maintained and updated? Are the links current or updated regularly? Is the information outdated?

    Accessibility
    Is the resource consistently available? Does it load quickly? Is there an option for text only.

    Unique Features
    Does it provide a search engine? Are there instructions or help? Are the buttons or navigational aids available? Are links provided to move through the document and return to the homepage? Do the icons clearly represent what is intended?

    Cost
    Is it a free resource? Does it require registration or a subscription fee?

    Prepared by Lynn Sette, Reference Librarian, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, P.O. Box 208014, New Haven,CT 06520-8014, (203) 737-2963, lynn.sette@yale.edu
    6 April 1999