An Analytical Index to the Internet: Dreams of Utopia

Abstract

All the current methods of accessing Internet resources fall short when it comes to locating discrete pieces of information and digital objects. One solution to this problem is to create analytical indexes to the Internet. This article explores the need for analytical indexes by looking at current Internet access, traditional bibliographic control, and Web site design. A discussion of some of the issues and problems concerning the development of these indexes, including the design and the resource selection process, emphasizes the impossibility of a comprehensive analytical index to the Internet. The creation of small, focused indexes may be the best solution for accessing specific types of digital information.