Information Source: Websites
The last type of information source this module addresses is websites. Once, when books and periodicals were only published in print, it was easy to distinguish them from websites and online content. Now, this can be a little confusing - think about everything that's available through websites:
- e-books are published and available online
- Scholarly journals are available through online databases or the journal's website
- Consumer magazines and newspapers are increasingly online or completely online (for instance, The Ann Arbor News was a newspaper that shut its doors in 2009 and is now all online)
So, while this content can - and does - exist online, this module uses the term "websites" to refer more to sites on the Internet that do not represent another means of publication. For instance:
Websites represent a mixed bag of resources - they might be of a high and reputable quality, but they also might not be reputable or worth your time. Use them with caution for the following reasons:
- Websites can be updated instantaneously - they are powerful tools for moment-to-moment awareness
- Anyone can publish on the Internet - there are no editorial checks, and there's no quality control
- The author or responsible party for a website is often not identified
- Content can be unstable and disappear or change without warning
- Design is often emphasized over content
Websites can be useful, though, when you want to find:
- Reports and statistics from government and non-profit groups
- Information on highly-specific topics that aren't published in other formats, perhaps because those publishing costs are too expensive
- Explorations of individuals' or groups' thoughts and perspectives, especially those who might not fit into traditional publishing industry options (books, journals, etc.)
