The NetFirst database, an authoritative directory of Internet-accessible resources, was introduced on the OCLC FirstSearch service in February 1996 with nearly 40,000 records. The database now contains over 100,000 records and covers World Wide Web sites, listservs, electronic journals, library catalogs and other Internet resources. NetFirst records contain bibliographic information, complete with summary descriptions, subject headings and classification codes describing Internet-accessible resources. However, the resources are not well organized, and finding needed information is often a challenge. Users need not wade through long lists of extraneous objects.
Users can determine the relevance of a resource without leaving the database.
This makes Internet discovery far more efficient than is possible with indexes that contain only an address, title and the first few words or sentences contained in the resource. LCSH allow users to search the database by subject area in addition to keyword searching. DDC numbers organize resources using a convenient, hierarchical structure that is ideal for browsing of resources by subject area. Internet resource types are covered, including those that are outside the reach of worms, robots and spiders.