Can a convincing-looking webpage still let an assignment down? Finding something online is only the beginning; deciding whether it deserves a place in a paper is another skill. University of Niagara Falls Canada’s Library is tackling that question with the online workshop Take a Closer Look: Assess Source Credibility on October 29, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. EDT. The focus is evidence students can actually use, not simply collecting more links.
Who is behind the information, and what is it trying to do? The session examines authority, purpose, evidence and relevance. In everyday terms, that means looking beyond a tidy layout to ask who created a source, why it exists, what supports its claims and whether it fits the question being researched. For an international student working through unfamiliar academic expectations, these questions offer a practical way to slow down and make a considered choice rather than trust the first result.
Is choosing a source the same as citing it correctly? Not quite: deciding what to use and showing where it came from are connected, but different tasks. As a separate resource, UNF’s APA Style guide covers paper structure, in-text citations, reference lists and examples for different source types. It also makes an important distinction: APA conventions do not replace an instructor’s assignment requirements. A useful source still needs a clear connection to the argument, and a properly formatted reference cannot make weak evidence stronger.
Where can students turn when a search gets stuck? Beyond this one-hour event, UNF’s Research and Instruction Services offers research consultations, workshops and learning resources. Librarians can help refine a question, explore databases and evaluate sources; they do not conduct the research or complete assignments for students. The aim is independence, not a shortcut. For students building confidence in a new academic setting, learning to explain why a source belongs in their work can matter as much as finding it. Current event details and registration are on the Library’s official listing.
Source: UNF Library workshop listing — event: October 29, 2026. Background: Research and Instruction Services; APA Style guide.
