Some REAL GEMS here (aka essential web resources) and we're happy to report that most of them have been mentioned on ResourceShelf at one time or another during our 9+ years online.
Additionally, library users from all types of libraries would likely find this list (both printed and online versions) useful. Public presentations reviewing the sites would also be a great way to share quality with library users. This list is the type of resource that can help maket the library as the "go to" place for quality info and resources, no matter if they're printed materials or on the Internet. I would hope MARS and ALA in general would take the necessary steps to promote the list (on multiple occasions) to all ALA members independent of where they work or what division(s) they're members of. It's also a list that people who have not used a library in many years would also find worthwhile. We wouldn't be surprised if local newspapers would also share it in print or on their web sites.
Finally, the criteria page alone is a one page, easy to understand guide, about many of the essential criteria that are important not only to a quality web site but that also need to be thought about when researching before giving a presentation or writing a paper. An exercise that would compare what someone found tossing a few words into a web search engine vs. taking a bit of time to look at the site using the selection criteria would be illustrative to all of those (of all ages) that participated.
Bottom Line? This is not only a useful list of web resources and valuable "collection development" tool but it's one awesome marketing tool for all libraries. ResourceShelf hopes at least a few libraries use it as many ways as they can.
Now with that mini-rant over it's time for you to review the list. Just one caveat that we wish was mentioned at the top of the page. Simply because a site makes the list, let's say the 2010 list, the one you are about to review DOES NOT necessarily mean it's a web site that has been released online during the past year or in this case, 2009. For example, Ad*Access, Cars.com, and a site we mention on ResourceShelf quite often, the Perry-Castaņeda Library Map Collection have been online for years. In a couple of the annotations the year the site was introduced is mentioned. We hope in future editions of the list, the approximate date of introduction would be useful.
Finally, after reviewing the list we limited ourselves to two NEW sites (2009 launches) that were our most favorite (we liked all of the selections) around here. We chose Wordnik (first mentioned on ResourceShelf, 12/22/2009. Our other selection? NASA Images that is being compiled and hosted by The Internet Archive. ResourceShelf first posted about this site/database on July 25, 2009. Four weeks later it was a Resource of the Week.
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