INTRO. TO JOMC’S PARK LIBRARY

Stephanie Willen Brown

Librarian, Park Library

swbrown@unc.edu

@ JOMCParkLib

Tonight• Answer Qs from homework• Evaluating the Interwebz – CRAAP!• Searching the Interwebz & beyond

• Good Google searches

• Plus cats!

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

Oh, CRAAP• Currency

• Relevance

• Authority

• Accuracy

• Purpose

The CRAAP test is adapted from the Meriam Library at California State University Chico.

Currency of Information

https://flic.kr/p/9cHTPe

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

Relevance

https://flic.kr/p/pg7ewL

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

Authority

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

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

Accuracy

https://flic.kr/p/a7VCV

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

Purpose

https://flic.kr/p/cqRMJq

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

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?

Che

ck it

out

!

Beef Nutritionwww.beefnutrition.org/

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

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

Pros & Cons ofWikipedia?!

Beyond Google: Wikipedia

Better than Google?!

Free News Articles @ UNC

One Thing You Learned

• Post one thing you learned today to Sakai.

• Check out what other people learned … so you can remember more!

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