Informal poll

I debated whether to start a new post or just leave a comment, so I left a comment. But I did also want to start a new subject because what that comment really leads me to is a question that's been perking for quite a while: How many reference staff use the recommended sites on something approaching a regular basis? Whether "regular" means every day or once every couple of months, I'd be interested to know.

Something else I'm curious about: Are the recommended sites more for staff or more for patrons? The answer doesn't have to be mutually exclusive, but just who is the target audience? If it's staff, then do we really need them? If it's patrons, then do we really need them (the sites, not the patrons)? I find myself much less dependent on them as a librarian than I was several years ago. I think web searching is one tool among many that we can - and do - teach, and I guess I'm just not sure how big a part lists play anymore.

(I'm also curious to know if anyone reads this blog besides Julie, Marty, and me. I guess I'll find out if anyone leaves comments.) ;)

Recommended Sites suggestion

Since redesigning and combining parts of the website is a big project, it's hard to know where to start. How about this:

Julie, the next time you ask us to check links, how about having everyone pare down their lists to absolutely necessary sites? Meaning ones that aren't already part of the librarian's toolbox or aren't easily found through Google (or could be duplicated by other sites found through Google). We don't have to remove them completely at that point (although we could), but I could compile a "chopping block" list for review. And if there are entire categories we don't need (I submit Entertainment, Leisure, and my own History pages as three examples) that's fine too.

This might help decide what kinds of broad subjects we do still need and how to combine the websites - if any besides local ones are left over - with the lengthy list of databases, which isn't going to get smaller.