Create a Citation Note for a Public Web Source
A useful citation note records who published a page, what it is called, when you accessed it, and the context of the claim you use.
Record the source identity
Write down the organization responsible for the page and its exact title. Include the direct link to the page, rather than only a search result or an agency homepage. If the page has a named department or program, record that too so a reader can identify who produced the information.
For example, a note that says “County website” is hard to retrace. “County Department of Public Health, Cooling Center Locations” gives a more useful starting point, especially when an agency has many pages on similar topics.
Add access and publication dates
Record the date you accessed the page. Also capture a publication, revision, or “last updated” date if the page provides one. These dates answer different questions: access records when you saw the content, while an update date describes the publisher’s stated revision timing.
If no publication or update date is visible, write “date not stated.” Do not infer one from the copyright footer or the date a search engine indexed the page. For information that changes frequently, revisit the link before relying on an old note.
Preserve the relevant context
Alongside the citation, add a short note identifying the section, table, or sentence that supports your point. Include the scope and limitation that matter: a service area, reporting period, eligibility note, or definition. This keeps a copied number from becoming detached from what it measures.
Suppose you note a count from a public dashboard. Record the metric label and period, not just the value. A future reader should be able to tell whether it describes unique households, service visits, or another unit.
Keep notes brief and verifiable
A practical format is: Organization; page title; direct link; publication or update date; access date; relevant section; context or limitation. Keep your own interpretation separate from source wording, and mark questions that the page does not answer.
This small record makes later corrections and updates easier. When sharing a summary, provide the direct link and enough context for someone to find the same material. A citation note is most useful when it helps another reader retrace the path and judge whether the source supports the claim.
Spotted something we should look at? Suggest a correction.