Defining today's community problems requires high-quality information from valid sources. In an era when some willfully cloud difficult issues with misinformation, it is incumbent upon us as citizens to become adept at fact-finding and verification.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District has compiled some tips and strategies for discovering information from well-researched sources, including government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Social networks allow misinformation to spread like wildfire. The ability to think critically when presented with new information is crucial. How do you check the veracity of the information?

Keep reading.

Don't stop at the headline. Headlines are designed to grab our attention, but they don't tell the whole story. Read the article before jumping to any conclusions.

Find out who created the article.

Anyone can share an article, but to determine whether it is reliable information, you need to determine the source. Often, you can use the article's Web address to see where the article was originally posted. Reputable news outlets have recognizable Web domains. Also, addresses ending in .edu, .gov, or .org are generally more reliable than those ending in .com or other top-level domains.

Learn a little more about the author.

Do an Internet search of the author's name to verify credentials, and find out what else he or she has written. Does the author have the authority to write on the subject? The Internet gives anyone a platform to publish opinions; online publication doesn't guarantee accuracy.

Check the sources.

Just because an article cites official-sounding sources doesn't mean those sources are real. Be sure information is presented in the proper context as well.

Determine when the article was originally published.

Outdated information sometimes enjoys a resurgence through social-networking sites. Check the article's date — is it even still relevant?

Reverse image search.

Fake articles often recycle old photographs. Right-click on the photo in the article, and choose to search Google for the image. If you find the same image in numerous articles on different topics, that's a sign you may be dealing with a questionable article.

Run it through Snopes.com.

Snopes.com is an independent fact-checking Web site. If you stumble across something online that sounds either too good to be true or a little off, run it through the search box at Snopes.com to see whether it has already been debunked.

Intrigued by the data highlighted in the report and ready to learn more? All of this data is at your fingertips. The following sources will help you get started.

Statistical Abstract of the U.S.

In production since 1878, the Statistical Abstracts of the United States is a comprehensive collection of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau ceased funding the Statistical Abstracts in 2011, the data is now compiled and published by Proquest. The library provides access to this data in both print and database formats.

U.S. Census Bureau

WWW.CENSUS.GOV

The mission of the U.S. Census Bureau is to "serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy." Data from the U.S. Census, gathered every 10 years, is publicly available on the bureau's site. Between decennial censuses, the American Community Survey gathers demographic data. That information is available through the bureau's American FactFinder portal.

FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting Publications

UCR.FBI.GOV/UCR-PUBLICATIONS

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program includes four annual publications: "Crime in the United States," "National Incident-Based Reporting System," "Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted," and "Hate Crime Statistics." More than 18,000 city, university/college, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies voluntarily participate in the program to supply data for these publications.

Data.gov

WWW.DATA.GOV

The U.S. General Services Administration manages and hosts Data.gov. This site, launched in 2009, is a repository for federal government information. While intended for civic researchers, it is made available to everyone. You will find data sets on varied topics, such as consumer trends, education, and public safety.

Missouri Economic Research and Information Center

WWW.MISSOURIECONOMY.ORG

On this site, you will find economic data compiled by the research division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Among the data available: average wages by county, cost of living data, unemployment rates, employment projections, and green-jobs reports.

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Community Data Profiles

WWW.HEALTH.MO.GOV/DATA/COMMUNITYDATAPROFILES/

This department compiles statistics and reports on alcohol and drug abuse, child health, chronic disease, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and more. The community-health data can be explored by county.

Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education School Data

WWW.DESE.MO.GOV/SCHOOL-DATA

Find data related to college and career readiness, Missouri school districts, early childhood education, educators, and special education.

Pew Research Center

WWW.PEWRESEARCH.ORG

The Pew Research Center, established in 2004 as a nonpartisan "fact tank," measures public opinion on a variety of topics, including gun ownership, gay marriage, and economic conditions. Along with the reports, the public has access to the data sets used to create them.