Purpose

The following guidelines were developed for the purpose of clarifying some factors commonly considered by those who are experienced in identifying web resources or building web pages. These guidelines are not intended to be absolute, and a specific resource does not have to meet all of the criteria to be acceptable.

Guidelines

1. Quality

   Its uniqueness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, lack of bias, or breadth of scope indicate the quality of a web resource.  High quality sites are often noted for the extent to which they include unique information and serve as a primary resource on a subject.

   Comprehensiveness is also indicative of a quality site. Sites that provide information are preferred to those that simply point to other sites.  Well-organized and annotated collections of links are often also judged as useful.

2. Relevance

   The extent to which the resource satisfies the needs and is appropriate for the level and purposes of the intended users determines relevance. Language and country coverage should be appropriate for the subject involved and the intended audience.

3. Organization and Design

   Web resources are judged both for content and visual appeal in ways that differ from the evaluation of print scholarly resources.  Excellent design clearly adds value to web pages but should not be a substitute for excellent content. 

   The design and organization of the site should be logical and visually appealing.  Good organization is generally indicated by consistent graphics and style.  Annotated links to other sites are considered useful to help the user move through the information.

4. Ease of Use

   The site should be reviewed for usability to insure that it is simple, consistent, clear, and easy to load in terms of speed. If special software is required, is it linked to the site and easily located, and is it free? Navigational aids should be provided for longer pages and if searchable, the search interface should be readily understood.

5. Reliability & Stability

   Consider the credibility, institutional affiliation, authority, status, and reputation of a site. The source of the information should be clearly identified.  If the site is the creation of an individual, the individual should be considered authoritative by such measures as institutional affiliation or peer review. A name and e-mail address of a contact person or group should be available for user contact.

6. Maintenance

   Look for evidence, such as a date or a last update, which indicates that the site is regularly maintained, and that links are active and information is current.

7. Access Restrictions

   Consider the impact of subscription fees for commercial sites or other possible barriers to access such as registration requirements, time limitations, or stringent copyright restrictions. While such restrictions are not necessarily a basis for exclusion of a site, the impact on users should be considered.

   In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with disabilities should be able to access all services the University offers to non-disabled individuals. Internet resources, which increase the likelihood of such access, are preferred. Such resources may include those which provide text-only options (i.e., for individuals using Screen Reader technology), large print options, or audio.

8. Local Orientation

   Sites created by individuals or units affiliated with Florida Atlantic University and Southeast Florida will be given special consideration to the extent that they may reflect local interests, needs, or resources.

9. Exclusions

   Exclude websites that merely advertise a service or product.

10. De-selection

    Internet resources that are "no longer available" or "maintained" need to be removed.

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