Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Selective Web Directories

I recently attended a brown bag on campus at the library, led by Dan Ream (aka "dream"). This one was on Selective Web Directories and I gotta tell you that it was really eye-opening. I didn't even know this stuff was out there, so thanks to Dan.

Click here for his page of great information.

The idea of a Selective Web Directory, as I understand it, is that someone has done the "weeding out" work that is required with a basic search on Google or Bing. This is especially helpful for scholarship, but it's also helpful for other narrow searches. I'm interested in using KidsClick with my son, for example. Cool to learn new stuff.

2 comments:

  1. In the interest of constructive critique, this needs a little more "meat." Certainly, the shallow references to this thing I've never heard of were motivation to seek out answers the answers on my own - arguably a desired effect. Unfortunately, after discovering what Selective Web Directories are, in more specific terms, I felt like you didn't have me in mind -- a reader new to the concept or terminology.

    Why do SWDs exist? How are results "weeded out" and by what criteria? Why would someone want to use one? Using KidsClick with your son isn't an example, but how and why you will is.

    Answers to these questions would have had a greater impact on my confidence in your understanding. The details would have made me care about it, which is what all writers should aspire to do.

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  2. Dear Anonymous,
    Firstly, you probably shouldn't look for detailed explanations in blog posts (and if you got to this post through a general search on the likes of Google, Bing, or Yahoo, then you've answered your first question). Secondly, in order to avoid redundancy, I provided a link that will probably answer most of your questions. The criteria for selection is specific to each directory, for example. The answer to your third question will come with the answers to the first two. Thirdly, when you are critiquing, you automatically lose credibility by critiquing anonymously. Lastly, you're right when you say the details are lacking here and I appreciate you pointing it out.

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