Information for Authors under Contract

Using Internet Sources

When developing your manuscript, it's tempting to easily access the plethora of information on the ubiquitous Internet in lieu of researching print sources. While we recognize the Internet can be a time-saving research tool, we also know it's easy to over-rely on it. And, the information found in online sources often proves to be biased, inaccurate, and out of date.

To provide your reader with the best research and references to online data, here are some key things to consider when using online sources.

Evaluate the Trustworthiness of the Information

Ask yourself these questions to determine whether your online source is trustworthy:

• Am I accessing a primary source or a secondary source? Data and statistics from a primary source such as a .gov or .edu site are likely to be reliable.
  
  
• Is the site providing information from an expert in the subject? Are the author's bio and credentials provided on the site? If you are unfamiliar with the author, do a google.com search for other materials he or she has produced.
  
  
• Does the information present all or only one side of an issue?
  
  
• Is the information reasonably current (say, within the last few years)? Check the "site last updated" date that is generally found at the bottom of the home page. Also check the date on the article from which you wish to use information.
  
  
• Although it's convenient to use wikipedia.com to quickly check such general information as time periods, please do not use this site as a definitive source of information since anyone can edit it, regardless of his or her knowledge about a subject. It's best to rely on primary sources, particularly those that contain peer-reviewed articles. Even if you found the information on the Internet, try to cite a book or agency as the source in your book.
  
  
• We hate to even mention the seedy side of some URLs—just keep in mind that some of your users may be young adults.
  
  

Keep the URLS User Friendly

It's just plain difficult for a reader or student to type in a lengthy URL in order to access a page that is deep into a website. Frequently, a lengthy URL takes the reader/student to a page that has expired.

Thus, when citing URLs for footnotes, a bibliography, or an appendix, etc., please do the following:

• Provide the home-page URL for the site you wish to reference
  
  
• Then tell the reader how to get to the information once the site is accessed

Example:

Here is a path to information about writing activities on Dave's ESL Café:

More information on ESL writing activities is available on Dave's ESL Café, www.eslcafe.com, Stuff for Teachers, Idea Cookbook, Writing.

Make Sure Readers Can Access the Information

Readers should be able to readily access any online information you cite. Thus, do not direct the reader to websites that entail (1) a cost for connecting to the source, (2) a cost for obtaining the information, (3) special equipment to get into the site, and (4) a password.

Obviously, there are exceptions to all of these! For example, if you are recommending online journals and membership in professional organizations one can join by accessing an Internet site, a fee for access is likely to be involved. If this is the case, please inform the reader by simply adding appropriate language in your manuscript, such as "membership fee required for full access to site."

Online Material Is Still Copyrighted Material!

Even if the site you access contains no copyright symbol or copyright language, the material is still copyrighted and must be cited in your manuscript.

As with print material, "fair use" may apply to excerpting short passages of material from the site, but it does depend on the percentage of material you cite from the whole. Be overly cautious here.

Once, Twice, Three Times!

We recommend a three-step check of the URLs you cite to ensure they are as accurate and as timely as possible by the time your book is published.

• Obviously, you'll be checking URLs in your initial research and text development.
  
  
• Just before you submit your entire manuscript, please check the URLs again. (We may ask you to re-check some of them when we send you the copyedited manuscript for review since our copy editor may have found some URLs that cannot be accessed.)
  
  
• Check the URLs a final time when you review your page proof. (You might be surprised to see the number of changes that have occurred in the URLs during the several months between manuscript submission and page proof.)
  
  

Above All, to Thine Own Self Be True!

Quite simply, don't believe everything you read on the Internet! Use the same rigorous evaluation and decision-making process you would use when determining which print materials to use and recommend.