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Part of being accurate is to provide the information the patron needs. Depending on the subject, old information may simply be wrong. Examples are:

  1. Names of office holders
  2. Addresses and telephone numbers of businesses
  3. Statistics
  4. Scientific, medical or legal information

There are many other instances, of course, when older information is inaccurate.

When should you suspect you have an outdated source?

  1. Check the date of the material you are using. Do you suspect there is newer information to be had, even if you don't have it? Sometimes there are clues right in the material itself -- you may have a third edition dated 1994. There might be a newer edition.
  2. Statistical tables should indicate on the table the date of the information given. Tables usually give the name of the group or agency that compiled them. It's worth checking to see if later figures are available.
  3. Office holders change very fast. Directories are generally out of date before they are published.
  4. Websites are often dated at the bottom of the individual pages, but if you can’t find a date, check the source code. You can click on “View” and then “Source” from the browser command line to see the source code and perhaps find a date of last revision.

If you suspect newer information may be available:

  • Check with your patron to find out if newer material is needed.
  • If it is, offer to pursue the question, giving the patron a realistic idea of when you might have updated material.
  • If the patron can't wait for the referral process or prefers to make a direct contact, offer a source where the patron can go directly to get updated information:

    For example, check the statistical table to find out who compiled the data, and use a directory to get a current telephone number.

    Or, if a person is looking for the name of a current office holder, offer to supply the telephone number of the government office. (Or better yet, call the office yourself to verify the information.)

    Go to Accuracy.

    Back to Be sure your patron understands the answer.

    Back to MORE Manual home page.

    This page was updated November 24, 2003.