Jonathan Essa

9/09/02

Web Site Evaluation Project

                    The website http://orb.rhodes.edu/ is a moderately good internet resource to be utilized by persons interested in researching medieval literature. I analyzed the site using criteria found on both our class and Pace University’s library website on September 9^th. The expertise, organization, content, and audience were taken into account when reviewing ORB: The Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies.

                    The ORB website contains numerous articles written by medieval scholars and historians from across the globe. Before an article is linked to the website it undergoes strict scrutiny by an editorial board composed of well recognized medieval literature and history scholars. Two editors are Marvin Bedingfield from Oxford University, and David Burr from Virginia Tech. The main editor of this site is Carolyn P. Schriber who has a [P.H.D.=>Ph.D.] in history from the University of Colorado. Her email address is readily posted on the website for any researcher to use if contact is desired. The website is current[;=>:] last copyrighted in 2001.

                    I found this website easy to navigate. Found in the header of all pages is a series of links to various aspects of the ORB. When clicking on the encyclopedia link a researcher is directed to a topical index separating articles in ascending order by the time period being studied, as well as more general topics such as culture and religion. All of the links on this page work. The same is found when clicking on the teaching, general, links, search, and about links. Yet, a strong negative aspect of this website is the linked pages found though the library and reference links. The first three links found on the library page directed me to other notable internet resource sites, such as the Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Yet, all other links thereafter did not work[comma] resulting in URL errors. The reference page has working links to notable websites including The Labyrinth at Georgetown University. Yet, the individual document links do not work. This may be due to the ORB’s updating [failure to update?] of materials, although no such notice is posted.

                    It is important for a researcher to acknowledge the intended audience of a website when searching the internet for possible sources to use in their works. The ORB website is made for medieval scholars, as well as researchers[<=How are you distinguishing these two?], to collaborate on their works, and take advantage of each others[possessive] knowledge of this topic. All linked articles I skimmed through were written with proper grammar, organization, and mechanics in an easily readable yet highly professional manner.

                    I would recommend the ORB website to researchers for use in their studies. Although many links on the site do not work, the functional links provide a multitude of useful facts, critical studies, and opinions on medieval topics.