The CRAP Test

Information overload.

We've all been there.  With today's technology, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the information readily available on the internet. How can you determine if you've found paper worthy information? 

Put the CRAP test to work for you!  It's a way to evaluate a source based on the following criteria - Currency, Reliability, Authority and Purpose/Point of View.



Currency

• How recent is the information?
• When was the website last updated?
• Is it current enough for your topic?  (Nursing information w/in last 7 years!)

Reliability

• What kind of information is included in the resource?
• Is the content balanced?  Or is it primarily opinion?
• Does the creator provide reference or sources for data or quotations?\

Authority

• Who is the creator or author?
• What are the credentials?
• Who is the publisher?
• Are they reputable?
• What is the publisher's interest in this information (if any)?
• Are there advertisements on the website?

Purpose/Point of View

• Is this fact or opinion based?
• Is it biased?
• Is the author trying to sell you something? 

If in doubt, ask! 

This Day in History

October 14, 1964:  At the age of 35, Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for this nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America.  He was the youngest person to ever receive the award. 

In 1963, the March on Washington was led by King.  He delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" address at that time.  1964 was the year in which the civil rights movement saw two of it's greatest successes.  The ratification of the 25th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  When King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he donated the prize money $54,600 to the civil rights movement. 

Check out your library for books on Martin Luther King, Jr.  Don't forget to use our databases as well - we offer Academic Search Premier, EBSCO OmniFile Full Text Select and over 45,000 eBooks!  You'll find a lot of information regarding the civil rights movement, Nobel Peace Prize, March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.! 

If you need help finding books or accessing the databases, contact library staff at 308.345-8117 (McCook) and 308.535.3726 (North Platte).