CRAAP, an acronym that stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose, is an evaluation tool that was designed by librarian Sarah Blakeslee at the Meriam Library California State University, Chico. This tool serves as a valuable method so you can efficiently evaluate the nature and value of the information that you find.

C - Currency

Firstly, it is currency, which basically refers to the "timeliness" of the information. For you to check the currency of the resource, you can ask yourself the following questions:

• When was the information published?
• Has the information been revised/updated?
• Is the information current or out-of-date for your topic?
• Are the links functional?

R - Relevance

Second is relevance, which refers to the importance of the information for your needs. Questions may include:

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e., not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
• Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

A - Authority

A stands for authority, and it means what is the source of the information. Questions are:

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?