Wikis!

My Thoughts 

I'll admit first thing that the extent of knowledge of wikis lies in the might Wikipedia.  Even then, I vaguely knew that anyone in the global community could edit a page.  I had imagined a team working the wee night hours in nowhere land doing all the work for us.  Farkas reading however clearned up a lot of my misconceptions--or lack thereof--of wikis.  

 A few things I came across were again the importance tthat this social software tool is free.  This feature of wikis is highly valuable for all types of libraries.  Like a blog, it is also important to be specific about content, titles and instructions.  WIth any information that can be accessed and edited by the public, including disclaimers and highlighted intentions will keep the organization, management and content of the page clean. Throughout all the readings this week, I frequently came across the phrase "online community."  The idea of an online community is new and growing.  But, like the physical library, librarians or newspapers, online wiki's are a resource for information of the community that is written by the community members.  In Farkas words, this "positions the library at the hub of the community," which is a core goal of all libraries. The online community is another form of communication that the library can use to initiate and collaborate with the community to create a set of common goals and traits.  

I think it is important to recognize the downside of wiki's.  Of course we all know the danger of publishing and editing material in our own point of view and perceptions.  Wikis can certainly create controversy, such as the Isreal-Lebannon example by Schiff.  However, I asked myself how different this form of media is than the controlled and monopolized television and news programs we watch, read and listen to everyday.  I think that because of the freedom and respect of knowledge that wiki's offer communities, people will self-police the content they write.  For specific areas, such as library wiki's, I would advise including a membership login, such as the Biz wiki.  

Wiki's in Libraries 

The case study of the Wyoming Author's wiki was really appealing.  It looked like a normal website with easy navigation, images, links, background and font customization and just easy to use.  For a 'new' type of tool, designing the wiki with the user in mind is necessary so that people with little or no familiarity with wiki's can use them without difficulty or alienation.   

It is clear through the case studies and readings that there are numerous uses for wiki's in libraries, including subject guides, reference, discussions and community projects.  One of the potential uses I see for wikis is collaborating with community partners, such as public schools, hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, job banks, city hall, and health/abuse/substance abuse centers.   Libraries need partnerships: it is what makes them the center of the community, where all information can be accessed privately and non-judgmentally.  In order to improve the libraries and the partners information and values about the service, a wiki could be used so that both ends can collaborate to cater the needs of the users.  This is especially useful for information that is retrieved fast and without direct contact, which can sometimes be difficult to find time.    Another way wikis can be used is internally.  It would be useful for libraries to have a wiki that can be accessed by different departments.  This way a librarian or employee can be informed, and with authority, about different services offered, events, updates and policies.   In an academic setting, interacting with faculty members in specific disciplines would help the library understand projects, content and needs, while informing faculty members of available materials, resources and services.