[WEB4LIB] Linking to sites that cripple navigation

[George Porter]

Jerry Kuntz asked:

2) What do you think of deselecting sites in a library-managed web guide
that intentionally cripple normal browser commands?


I'd have to say that deselecting from library-managed web guides is the most
potent tool that librarians have to influence the behavior of website
managers.  Alternatives and likely outcomes include:

1) Observe bad behavior and do nothing.  Net result: no impact

2) Observe, then fire off email of condemnation, but maintain link.
Possibly influence the manager, but no guarantee.  You're still delivering
users, so what impact can they expect?  Not much.

3) Email of complaint with ultimatum.  Give them a couple days to desist
this nasty behavior or you'll pull the link.  Now we're talking a little bit
of leverage, IF you're driving an appreciable amount of traffic their way.
Knowing how much traffic you contribute, and mentioning it in your email, is
an important part of the persuasion.

4) Email AND delink, with the promise of reconsidering when/if they mend
their ways.  Again, how important is your link, or those of other libraries,
to the website in question?

5) Make it part of your evaluation criteria from the outset. If you see
someone with good content, but a bad user interface, tell them you are
considering linking, but....

This is analogous to libraries subscribing to journals with bad pricing
policies, untenable copyright provisions, etc.  Vote with your feet,
dollars, links, whatever the appropriate currency is for the venue under
consideration.

George S. Porter
Sherman Fairchild Library of Engineering & Applied Science
Caltech, 1-43
Pasadena, CA  91125-4300
Telephone (626) 395-3409 Fax (626) 431-2681