Those developing web resources, like those developing library collections, are faced with many decisions related to the purpose of their efforts, meeting user needs, the relationship among items collected, and the quality of individual items. Most selectors employ explicit or implicit criteria to guide their decisions although selection of library materials or web resources is not amenable to formulaic guidelines. Decisions are conditioned by numerous factors including the nature of the subject under consideration, the use of the collection, and the nature and needs of the anticipated audience. The guidelines below are intended to illuminate some factors commonly considered by selectors experienced in identifying web resources or building web pages.
Most selectors report that much depends upon the purposes of a particular project.
The quality of a web resource is variously indicated by its uniqueness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, lack of bias, or breadth of scope. Comprehensiveness is also indicative of a quality site although a compilation of well selected links is much preferred to a large number of links of mixed quality or usefulness. Sites that provide information are preferred to those that simply point to others although well organized and annotated collections of links are often judged useful by selectors. Relevance Consider the extent to which the resource is in scope for the subject and appropriate for the level and purposes of the intended users. Language and country coverage should be appropriate for the subject involved and the intended audience.