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Evaluating Sources

Assess sources for relevancy and reliability

Evaluating Your Sources: Reputation / Scholarly Contribution

Reputation / Contribution to Scholarship
How has this work, or other works by this author, been received by others in the field?

For books, read book reviews.

Have others cited this work?

Look for "cited by" or "times cited" links in the databases you are searching
Do a "cited reference" search in Web of Science to see who has cited the work.

Book Review Index (Gale Literature)
Publication Dates: 1965-Present
Includes reviews of English-language fiction, non-fiction, and children's books in all formats. Covers more reviewing sources than Book Review Digest.
Book Review Digest [Combined]
Publication Dates: 1905-Present
Searches Book Review Digest and Book Review Digest Retrospective together. Use to find general interest and critical reviews of English fiction and non-fiction.

Citation Databases

Web of Science
Publication Dates: 1900-Present
Searches the scholarly literature in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Includes a cited reference search to find articles that have cited a work.

Last Updated: Nov 6, 2025 2:00 PM
URL: https://libguides.williams.edu/evaluating-sources
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