Quality Control and the Web

Because anyone can "publish" on the Web, levels of quality can vary widely from Web site to Web site.

• Information may not have been checked by editors or experts
• Facts may not be accurate
• Research may not be to a high standard

While it is important to think critically about any information you find and verify its accuracy by using a variety of sources, information you find in the Library is usually easier to evaluate because it has been reviewed twice by the time you see it. First, an editor verifies that the information is accurate, then a librarian determines whether the item is appropriate for the library.

Because freely-available Web sources usually do not go through this review process, it is crucial to carefully scrutinize information found on the free Web.