Laura:
While the ODP is a well-known project and used my many directories I've found
that it has a few issues that I worthy of note. This doesn't make the project
worthy of attention but I think they are worthy mentioning.
1) You are correct, many dirctories are "powered" by ODP data. However, no
directory owner is "required" to download updates and corrections. You can find
a list of ODP powered sites at:
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Searching/Directories/Open_Directory_Project/Sites_Using_ODP_Data/
2) Maintenance issues.
Example:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Elections/Presidential/1996/?il=1
(Google uses ODP data)
The page for Clinton/Gore entry is no longer "official". Btw, having a listing
in the ODP is factored into how results are placed on a Google results page.
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Elections/Presidential/1996/?il=1
3) They don't list a collection development policy. Who is responsible for a
section if an editor drops out?
Finally, a point of info,
Although the directory is a volunteer effort, it is administered by Time Warner
(current owners of Netscape). They also hold the copyright. If TW decides to
shut the project down who will own the directory?
--- ---While we're on the topic of non-commercial directories I would like to mention four that are built, annotated, and maintained by librarians.
A) The Librarians' Index to the Internet http://www.lii.org
B) Infomine http://infomine.ucr.edu
C) Resource Discovery Network http://rdn.ac.uk At this url you can search several subject directories simultaneously or go direct to each directory. Very impressive. The SOSIG directory focuses on social sciences. http://www.sosig.ac.uk/ The Law section of SOSIG just won a major award. http://www.sosig.ac.uk/law/
D) The Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org
cheers, gary
Quoting Laura Ray <laura.ray@law.csuohio.edu>:
> Thanks for this post! > I suggest interested folks take another look at "The Open Directory" ( > http://www.dmoz.org/about.html ), compiled and managed by volunteer > "net-citizens." Yes, it's menu structure may frustrate those wedded to > "3 click or I'm done with this site." But its information is quite > credible, and its philosophy is quite refreshing. As stated in its > "About" page: > "... The Open Directory follows in the footsteps of some of the most > important editor/contributor projects of the 20th century. Just as the > Oxford English Dictionary became the definitive word on words through > the efforts of volunteers, the Open Directory follows in its footsteps > to become the definitive catalog of the Web. The Open Directory was > founded in the spirit of the Open Source movement, and is the only major > directory that is 100% free. There is not, nor will there ever be, a > cost to submit a site to the directory, and/or to use the directory's > data. The Open Directory data is made available for free to anyone who > agrees to comply with our free use license. The Open Directory is the > most widely distributed data base of Web content classified by humans. > Its editorial standards body of net-citizens provide the collective > brain behind resource discovery on the Web. The Open Directory powers > the core directory services for the Web's largest and most popular > search engines and portals, including ... Google ... and hundreds of > others. ..." > > The next time you something that looks like a Web directory on the home > page of a search engine, take another look. It's probably The Open > Directory. > > Laura Ray > Educational Programing Librarian > Cleveland-Marshall College of Law > > > > Genie Tyburski wrote: > > >>All.info is a searchable directory of topics focused on web site > >>credibility. Our directory provides searchers with additional info > >>provided by the sites producer. This information helps our searchers > >>better find and evaluate sites. > >> > >> > > > ><snip> > > > > > > > >>All.info is the first search directory to tackle the issue of site > >>credibility in a scalable system. Aside from a proprietary ranking > >>algorithm, All.info uses the information provided by web site producers, > >>who know most about their sites, to help users better find and assess the > >>credibility of these web sites. > >> > >> > > > >MedicalMatrix <http://www.medmatrix.org> and a few others might dispute the > >claim that All.info is the first to index credible Web sites. That aside, > >obtaining "information provided by web site producers" does not ensure > >credibility. What it ensures is that sites will be listed in the directory > as > >they want to appear. > > > >Genie > >-- > >Genie Tyburski > >Web Manager, The Virtual Chase > >http://www.virtualchase.com > > > > > > >
--
Gary D. Price, MLIS Librarian Gary Price Library Research and Internet Consulting gary@freepint.com
Visit The ResourceShelf http://www.resourceshelf.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:44:47 PST