Evaluating Sources

They are especially useful for research into historical topics, or for in-depth coverage of subjects.

What is the publication date? Check the date for currency.  Is this important for your topic?

Are author credentials provided; for example, is the author a professor, a journalist, someone with experience in the field?  (See inside back cover on a hardcover book or the outside back cover on a paperback book.)

Is the publisher a university press?  A large well-known company?  A special interest group? Is the book self-published?

Look at the length of the book.  Is it comprehensive? 

What is the level of language:  Easy enough for a child? Generally understood by an adult? Scholarly? Technical?

Is there an index?  

Is there a list of references/bibliography? 

How descriptive is the table of contents?

What is the purpose of the book:  To inform?  Persuade?  Entertain?

Does the book exhibit a bias?  Does it present different points of view?

Besides the main part of the book, check these for more information:

Preface - Discover the scope of the book and author's purpose

Introduction - Read the preliminary information before reading the text of the book

Table of Contents - See the organization of the book

Notes, Bibliography, References - Examine the citations to sources the author consulted

Index - Find a specific topic that is covered in the book, with the page number where it is found