Web Wisdom How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web

Web Wisdom is an essential reference for anyone needing to evaluate or establish information quality on the World Wide Web. The book includes easy to use checklists for step-by-step quality evaluations of virtually any Web page. The checklists can also be used by Web authors to help them ensure quality information on their pages. In addition, Web Wisdom addresses other important issues, such as understanding the ways that advertising and sponsorship may affect the quality of Web information. It features:
* a detailed discussion of the items involved in evaluating Web information;
* checklists tailored to the creation and evaluation of specific Web page types (advocacy, business, informational, news, personal, entertainment);
* over 40 screen captures illustrating the principles presented in the book;
* discussion of copyright issues and meta tags; and
* a glossary of terms and bibliography.

Sometimes it seems like potluck whether a site you find on the Web can be trusted. To help students-and librarians-make judgments when using the Web for research, Alexander and Tate have constructed an in-depth curriculum for evaluating sites for quality, accuracy, and reliability. With plenty of labeled screen shots to illustrate their points, the authors tackle issues such as the balance of advertising and content in sites and analyzing personal Web pages. Two appendixes offer checklists and questions that evaluators can use to judge any site. The information and criteria presented are accurate and excellent, but the strict structure, length, and density of the book will make it rough going for many readers. Many excellent sites on the Web from respected institutions already survey the basics of site evaluation. Librarians and media specialists writing a Web-use curriculum or a "virtual" collection development policy, however, will find this book indispensable.-
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.