Thing 14. Reliable Online Resources

Web sites, news sites, images, and more are all on the Web for our entertainment and enlightenment. And we all know—as do most of our students—that anyone can create and publish a Web site. A lot of what is there is based on opinion, rhetoric, opinions, stories, interpretations, or parodies. It may be reliable or purposely false; it may be there to persuade you to buy an item or particular idea or change your attitude or belief. The “good stuff” is there, too, but how do we find it?

Human-created directories where experts (librarians or others) have reviewed and evaluated the Web sites before they are added to the links are a good place to start. These directories lead to validated, authentic sites, which can then be used to delve deeper.

Core
1. Explore these links which lead to reliable online resources:

• Librarians Index to the Internet
• Internet Public Library
• DocuTicker offers a hand-picked selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations. Updated daily (Add to your Bloglines/Reader account if this interests you.) DMOZ is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.
• Complete Planet will help you find reliable databases related to your subject.
  

2. To find other directories or resources that lead you and your students to reliable resources look at your local public library Web site for links, academic library Web sites, the sites of your professional organizations, museums, or other trusted organizations. Share what you find on your blog.

Make the Connection
Reliable resources is one of the 3Rs of the MILI project. Making the connection that evaluating individual resources is important when using the Internet is key when using the online sources for research. Offer these directories as an alternative to Google or Yahoo! searches. Directories don’t eliminate the need to evaluate the resource for its applicability to the need at hand, but they do provide a “shortcut” to reliable online resources.

Blog Prompts

• How could you introduce these resources to your students?
• Have you dealt with the impatience of students waiting for that instant answer? How do you handle that?
• What other reliable online resources do you rely on?