These link lists came into being quite early, even before the introduction of graphical browsers. Although bibliography was an early application of the web to research it hasn't come a long way since. In this way, the web is not being utilized to its potential. There are several weaknesses in the bibliographic practices of web denizens. First, the list of links that inhabit most every site on the Net leaves a great deal to be desired.
Some sites just list links that the site administrator is interested in.
Others list links by subject or related matter to their own site. These are all fine and good on a small scale. Increasingly, however, mere lists of links are inadequate. Such lists confirm a sad and unfortunate perspective in the scholarly community in regards to the web. Lists of links simply send the message that traditional print material is sufficiently different from electronic material that they warrant a separate list.