Another year is quickly drawing to a close.  It is that time of the year during which all those “Best of” lists begin popping up.  From books to music to movies and even moments, everyone has an opinion on what were the best of 2009.  We at iBraryGuy are no different. However, with so many available “best of”  lists out there, we decided to decline the chance to reinvent the wheel and publish our own lists on specific topics.  Instead, we thought we would help our readers find some of the best of the “best ofs”.  Between now and the end of the year, we will be sharing them with you.

Best of the Best of 2009:  Web Sites

Web sites, web sites everywhere!  It seems like no matter what the interest, question, or need, there is a web site or hundred dedicated to it.  There are the good, the bad, and the ugly and more of each than we can count.  Web sites are literally a dime a dozen.  So too are lists of the best web sites.  Here at iBraryGuy, we have looked at a lot of those lists this year. Here are some of our favorite best web sites lists for 2009, in no particular order:

  • Time’s 50 Best Sites of 2009:   Time Magazine’s list of the best 50 sites of 2009 was by far our favorite.  With sites to educate, entertain, and make you more productive, Time’s list truly has something for everyone.  It includes many of the most popular Web destinations as well as some of which you probably have never heard.  You can see it here.
  • The Webby Awards:  For an amazing 13 years running, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has been unveiling its list of best sites on the web.  Annually, thousands of sites are nominated.  Few, however, are the chosen.  It is quite a list and quite an honor to be recognized on it.  The Webbies are nicely divided by category and the Academy’s very user-friendly site.  You can explore the winners here.  
  • RUSA’s Best Free Research Sites: RUSA is the Reference and User Services Association.  A division of the American Library Association, RUSA too offers and annual list of the best.  The focus of their list, however, is research . . . specifically free research.  We all like free research sites, so long as they are good.  RUSA’s list is invaluable for separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff in the world of free online research.  You can get your fill here.
Web sites come and go.  It is quality, utility, and popularity that set the winners apart from the losers – those who are here to stay from those who will be gone tomorrow.  The lists above are chock full of sites that, in some cases, have and in others may withstand the tests of time and taste.  Did your favorites make the lists?  We any left out?  Let us know with your comments!

Tags: 2009, Best, Lists, Sites, Web
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Photo of John DiGilio John DiGilio

As an information professional and visionary, John DiGilio has over 20 years of large law firm library and legal information vendor experience. He has proudly been affiliated with some of the largest law firms and information vendors in the industry. An award winning…

As an information professional and visionary, John DiGilio has over 20 years of large law firm library and legal information vendor experience. He has proudly been affiliated with some of the largest law firms and information vendors in the industry. An award winning writer and popular speaker, John believes in the value of information and the power it can bring when harnessed wisely and efficiently.

John is the Firmwide Director of Library Services for Sidley Austin LLP. He has written for numerous regional and national publications as well as taught college and graduate courses in such topics as business ethics, e-commerce, fair employment practices, research methodology and business law.

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