Analyzing sources of information
Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.
How to Analyze Your Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.
Finding Periodical Articles shows you how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.
For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see our guide on Evaluating Internet Resources.
