BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTER

Selection Criteria for Business Web Links

The World Wide Web provides unique content, enhances traditional print collections, and can improve access to information. However, Websites present unique challenges for collection development. Many Websites are self-published and lack traditional editorial review. The goal of this policy is to ensure quality in the selection and classification of websites.

All Websites should meet general selection guidelines concerning quality, content, and the educational needs of our primary users. Websites selected will have substantive content, be written or compiled by scholars, professionals, government officials, librarians, or subject authorities. Websites selected will enrich, broaden, complement and support the current collections and the curriculum.

A link to a Website does not imply endorsement of the contents of that site or a particular point of view. We recognize that links that may be acceptable to one person or group may not be acceptable to another.

Many sources are considered in selecting Websites for inclusion:

  • Searcher
  • Scout Report
  • Librarians Index to the Internet
  • Online
  • Internet World
  • American Libraries
  • Subject-specific professional websites or journals including such sources as:
  • Fortune, PC Magazine, and other business-related magazines

Link suggestions may be made at any time to any Business Information Center librarian. Users are welcome to bring broken links or inaccurate information to the attention of any librarian.

Selection Criteria

Quality, depth and usefulness of content

  • Sites should originate from the creating or responsible organization/institution, not from a third party
  • Authority, credentials, and legality is clearly stated with preference given to academic, governmental and professional association websites that offer commitment to authoritative information and perpetuation of the site.
    • Clear statement of content, including any intended biases
    • Provides bibliographic or information citations as appropriate
    • Ability to ascertain status, affiliation, qualifications, and/or reputation of the author
    • Commercial sites should be unbiased, accurate, and not have aggressive or overly abundant advertising so educational use is not compromised. Commercial websites selected should have substantive content, be written or compiled by scholars, professionals, or subject authorities. Pure advertising sites will not be added.
    • If the selector is uncertain about the accuracy of the site or information contained within the site, a comparable resource should be checked.
  • Provides significant subject coverage:
    • “Monographic” in nature
    • Sites that contain only table of contents, abstracts, advertisements, and membership information are not recommended
    • E-journals that do not contain full-text of articles but only selective articles or tables of contents are not recommended
  • Provides a broad perspective of a particular subject, contributes to student learning and current programs, and/or fills a gap in the current collection
  • Representative of diverse religious, ethnic and cultural groups
  • Appropriate for the intended audience
  • Content is current, seems error-free and updates are appropriate for the subject.
    • Revisions are made on a timely basis
    • Provides a publication date or last revised date
  • Information presented is unique
  • Links to other websites are current and appropriate
  • Absence of grammatical errors

Design & Access
  • Site information is freely available and does not require user registration
  • User-friendly design
  • Accessible for users with disabilities
  • Easy, logical navigation
  • Access is reliable and utilizes a reasonable response time
    • Graphics load quickly
    • Useful information is available even if the user doesn’t have all the plugins and media components. Required plugins are easy to download.
    • Sites that contain software/hardware requirements that are not supported by campus libraries are not recommended.
    • Sites that are compressed or available in formats that are not viewable in the campus libraries are not recommended.
    • Pages load faster than 30 seconds on a 28.8 modem
    • Easy output that allows for printing or downloading


Deselection

Links to websites can be added or removed at any time.

Given the changeable nature of Websites, a monthly link check will be utilized to weed out dead links.

Deselection criteria:

  • no longer available
  • no longer current
  • site has been superseded
  • no longer provides reliable information
  • no longer meets Selection Criteria
  • site has been transferred to new owner or re-purposed

“Freedom to View” Addendum:
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/freedomtoview.html
Thank You For Visiting !