Finding Things

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Resource compilations are lists of links to pages with information on particular subjects. These lists may be constructed by a program, but they are often created by people who are interested in particular topics and who have already searched the Web for sites with information on these subjects. For example, suppose you are interested in the sport of soccer. Then you might like to check out these sites:

• Women's Soccer World WWW Page
• U. S. Soccer
• Soccer on US TV Information Pages

This is an example of a very simple Web resource compilation for a particular topic.

To make your own compilation (or to understand how they are made), start at a page that has information about the topic you are interested in. Look for other links to relevant information and visit those pages on different web sites. Keep track of the URLs by either using the Add to Favorites option of the browser's Favorites menu or by cutting and pasting the URLs to a new Notepad file that will become the source for a new web page with the listings.

If you're still looking for additional sites on your topic and you are using Internet Explorer 5.x, you can take advantage of the "Show Related Links" feature which is in the "Tools" pulldown menu.

Caveats

When you visit a new site, notice the source of the information. Is it a reputable institution or a publisher that has expertise in this area? Or does the organization behind the source seem to have an "agenda?" Keep in mind that the information on a web page is a reflection of the organization or individual who created it. Also take the time to examine the information on the site -- to the best of your knowledge is it accurate? If you notice some inconsistencies, you may want to reconsider before adding the site to your compilation.

If you're looking at someone else's list of links, you may find dead links or links to outdated information. Developing a collection of links is one thing; taking the time to maintain the list is another.