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To ensure each WEB FEET collection contains only the best Web sites, every site is selected by subject experts, teachers and librarians based on the following criteria:
Source
- The source of information is identified
- Primary sources are used when possible
- The contact information for the source or site administrator is displayed
- The expertise and reputation of the source are considered. The source is preferably a qualified professional at a peer-reviewed site or a government (.gov), educational institution (.edu), or respected organization (.org)
- The expertise and reputation of the site's host are considered. The host is preferably a government (.gov), educational institution (.edu), or respected organization (.org)
Information
- The information is not easily available in other sources
- Reviewers (subject-area experts and researchers) make every effort to ensure that the information is free of errors
- The information and images are objective; balanced; and not politically, commercially, religiously or otherwise biased
- The information is appropriate for all ages and has sufficient scope to cover the topic for the intended audience
- The information is readable and free of spelling and grammatical errors
- Sponsorship is clearly indicated, and advertising is minimal. When a site contains advertising, it should be neither intrusive nor presented in a way that may bias the user's understanding of the information
- The necessary disclaimers and privacy statements are posted
Timeliness
- Site is updated frequently, typically indicated by a recent "last updated" date
- Pages list the date of the most recent update or the dating of the information is made clear in an accessible area of the site
Links
- Links work, and they are relevant and appropriate
- At gateways sites, a large number of links are checked for inappropriate content (sexual references, profanity, violence, and other mature themes)
Chat Rooms and Message Boards
- Chat rooms and message boards are reviewed for inappropriate exchanges or postings (sexual references, profanity, violence, and other mature themes)
Accessibility and Navigation
- The site loads in a reasonably short time (less than 10 seconds)
- The site is easy to access and navigate
- Navigation includes clear headings and intuitive icons, menus and directional symbols that foster independent use
- Standard multimedia formats such as HTML are used
- Most information is accessible without special plug-ins such as Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Logical options are available for printing, downloading and e-mailing
Design
- A new user interface features topic pick lists and enhanced search functionality
- Information for specific audiences, such as consumer information within a professional or commercial site, is easy to locate
- Product advertising is not intrusive and is clearly differentiated from original content on the site
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