The Publication Date refers to when the source was published, or made available to the public.
The publication date follows the general format DAY MONTH YEAR. Months are capitalized and written out instead of indicated by a number. A month with more than four letters is abbreviated to the first three, followed by a period, then the year. However, different source types require different levels of precision.
Books: Only the year is required
Webpage: The full Day Month Year of Publication are required. Prioritize the date of publication over the date of last modification. On tips on how to find the date of publication on a website, click HERE.
Periodicals: The publication date is as specific as the periodicity (how often it is published) of the publication.
Film: Only the year is required.
Television and Internet series: The Day, Month, and Year of the initial broadcast are required. However, if you are viewing a pre-recorded series (such as on DVD) then only the Year is required.
Music: Only the Year is required for music albums. For live performances one must use the full Day Month Year of the performance.
Interviews: Day Month Year of the interview are required.
Social Media: In social media one not only includes the date of publication, but also the time, using the 12 hour system. In that way the format is the following: Day Month Year, Time. The time is that of the reader's time zone.
In the case that you cannot find the exact date of publication, you may add an estimation of more or less when your source was published. This is done by adding a c. (which stands for circa, or "around") in front of the year that you estimate the source was published.
Date of Last Access
It is of importance to note that sources that you find online are prone to being edited, moved, or completely deleted. For this reason it is important to state WHEN you last accessed your source so that you have stated evidence that the source was as you used it at the date that you said you did.
This Date of Last Access is important to add at the very end of your bibliographical citation, in the module called Optional Elements. As this is only for online material, you use the following format:
Accessed Day Month Year.
Do NOT use this module for print or audiovisual material.