U.S. Government

Google is an indispensable and powerful tool for finding information on the web, but don't forget to evaluate the information you find. Just because you can find something doesn't mean you should use it. Apply the 6 Criteria below to make sure you are using accurate and reliable sources.

• Access: is the content readily accessible to everyone?
• Author: Who is the author, an individual or an organization? What are the credentials or qualifications?
• Context: Does it address your information needs?
• Date: How old is the information? Is it up to date?
• Purpose: Why was this information created? Was it created to support a specific argument or point of view?
• Source: Can you find a bibliography, or list of sources?