This is a very important question! No matter where you find a resource - online, in the library, in your classroom - you need to think critically about whether that resource is right for your information need. See the Evaluating Sources page on the Writing Support Center for ideas of what to think about.
Being in the library collection adds some credibility to a source and it is likely it's appropriate to use in an academic paper. However, you still need to consider whether the author, currency, and reliability of the source for your assignment.
