This document summarizes an introductory presentation given by Stephanie Willen Brown, the librarian of the Park Library, about evaluating online sources. It introduces the CRAAP test for assessing the currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of information. The presentation discusses applying these criteria when searching Google and other online resources, provides tips for effective Google searches, and recommends additional resources like Wikipedia and free news articles available through UNC. Attendees are asked to share one thing they learned in a Sakai post.

1. INTRO. TO JOMC’S
PARK LIBRARY
Stephanie Willen Brown
Librarian, Park Library
swbrown@unc.edu
@ JOMCParkLib

2. Tonight
• Answer Qs from homework
• Evaluating the Interwebz – CRAAP!
• Searching the Interwebz & beyond
• Good Google searches
• Plus cats!

3. Discuss Homework
• What resource did you use to answer
questions?
• What search terms?
•How many results?
• How much time?
Image from show/cristal-intense-icons-by-tatice.1.html

4. Oh, CRAAP
• Currency
• Relevance
• Authority
• Accuracy
• Purpose
The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.

5. Currency of Information
https://flic.kr/p/9cHTPe

6. Questions for Currency
• How recent is the information?
• Is the date appropriate for the topic?
• When the site is updated, does the information change?
• Dates not always included on Web pages
• If included, a date may have various meanings:
• Date first created
• Date placed online
• Date last revised
http://findicons.com/icon/221914/question2

7. Relevance
https://flic.kr/p/pg7ewL

8. Questions for Relevance
• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before
determining this is one you will use?
• Would you be comfortable using this source in a news
article?
Image from http://findicons.com/icon/221912/question1

9. Authority
https://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/5546944758/

10. Questions for Authority
• Who is the author?
• Are the author’s credentials or professional affiliation
given?
• Is there contact information for the author or maintainer?
• What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the source?
• .com • .edu
• .gov • .org •.net *
http://findicons.com/icon/221910/question5

11. Accuracy
https://flic.kr/p/a7VCV

12. Questions for Accuracy
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or
from personal knowledge?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed by
experts?
• Does the tone seem biased or is it free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical
errors?
http://findicons.com/icon/221911/question4

13. Purpose
https://flic.kr/p/cqRMJq

14. Questions for Purpose
• What is the purpose of the website?
• Inform
• Persuade
• Present opinions
• Report research
• Sell a product
• Is the material presented as fact? opinion? propaganda?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious,
institutional, or personal biases?
• Who’s the audience? General? Scholars?
Knowledgeable?
http://findicons.com/icon/221913/question3

15. Most Important CRAAP Qs
• When was the information published or posted?
• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your
question?
• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• Where does the information come from?
• What is the purpose of the information?

16. Check it out!
Beef Nutrition
www.beefnutrition.org/

17. Google Tips
• Quotes around search terms to narrow results
• “social media”
• AND terms to increase relevance, decrease number of
results
• “social media” “age group”
• Limit by date
• Click on “Search tools”
• Click on “Any time”
• Select date options
Image from http://www.google.com/doodles/childrens-day-2013-poland

18. Google Search: Jobs @ Disney
•Want to get a job at Disney? How would you find
out if they’re hiring?
Image from http://www.google.com/doodles/nachum-gutmans-112th-birthday

19. Beyond Google: Wikipedia
Pros &
Cons of
Wikipedia?!

20. Better than Google?!

21. Free News Articles @ UNC

22. One Thing You Learned
• Post one thing you learned today to Sakai.
• Check out what other people learned … so
you can remember more!
Image from: http://www.iconarchive.com/show/cristal-intense-icons-by-tatice/Notepad-Bloc-notes-2-icon.html