If you have a particularly good memory, you might remember when we updated you on our transition from what had been known as CROETweb to our OccHealthSci Resource Directory. Roughly four years ago we had decided to take a fairly old content management system, chocked full of links curated for decades, and fold it into an updated system. Little did we predict even then, while the internet had changed a lot from the time the first CROETweb database was created in 1996, that even these last few years would create enough change to make our 2017 Resource Directory a bit outdated. Who would have known (okay, some probably did!) that bookmarked web directories would be largely cast aside due to advances in search engine precision. In today’s world, most of us simply pull up our favorite search engine, type in what we want, and pretty much get exactly where we want to be with minimal effort. The simplicity of today’s ability to search the internet makes time-intensive resource curation not always a good choice, especially when there are so many other tasks we should or could also be doing.

So, with that, today we are pleased to share our 2020 updated Resource Directory. You may notice it is much simpler than its predecessor, containing fewer links than in the past. Through feedback we received on our survey from stakeholders together with web analytics, we learned that mostly you weren’t looking through our directory for resources. We have instead highlighted a smaller number of curated resources, particularly targeted to our research expertise and interests, such as Total Worker Health^®, sleep and shift work. Additionally, we focused on a few topics that our directory analytics identified as most popular, such as resources for toolbox talks. Finally, we have made it easier to find our other channels and features, from this blog, to our newsletter, symposia, social media channels and specific featured resources for the month.

For now, we hope this provides you a better experience to find recommended and relevant links. And we do wonder, what might the next five years bring?

Visit our updated Resource Directory.

Featured image source: Parts from early computers, 1962. “U.S. Army Photo”, number 163-12-62. Left: Patsy Simmers (mathematician/programmer), holding ENIAC board. Next: Mrs. Gail Taylor, holding EDVAC board. Next: Mrs. Milly Beck, holding ORDVAC board. Right: Mrs. Norma Stec (mathematician/programmer), holding BRLESC-I board. Public domain.