When was the source published?
This date is often located on the face of the title page below the name of the publisher. If it is not there, look for the copyright date on the reverse of the title page. On webpages, the date of the last revision is usually at the bottom of the home page, sometimes every page.
Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic?
Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as the sciences, demand more current information. On the other hand, topics in the humanities often require material that was written many years ago. At the other extreme, some news sources on the web now note the hour and minute that articles are posted on their site.
Edition or Revision
Is this a first edition of this publication or not?
Further editions indicate a source has been revised and updated to reflect changes in knowledge, include omissions, and harmonize with its intended reader's needs. Also, many printings or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source in the area and is reliable. If you are using a web source, do the pages indicate revision dates?
