WebJunction

Another wiki of potential interest:

"Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki"

http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Main_Page


Apparently, there must be some reciprocation between WJ and the wiki, although I was unable to find it via a search:

http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=WebJunction

No, I do not recall contributing to a wiki, yet. I have definitely used several different ones and see their potential. However, as I think Will has hit on, right now I see them as more behind the scene tools / resources, than perhaps front line items, especially for small libraries.

Hi there,
I can share a couple of thoughts about how I see them being useful in library contexts.

I think some bigger libraries might find a wiki valuable in place of a staff intranet. It's better than a blog for those purpose, because it's not chronological, but is topical instead. And I think it's better than a traditional website for the purpose because it's easier to update and it's easier for a larger number of people to contribute.

I work for a multitype system in Kansas and we're going to create a wiki for a shared automation project with which we're involved. It will be used as a repository for the information we create (training materials, promotional materials).... The audience for this wiki will also be the creators of this wiki (not the end user public, but the staff at the various libraries). The categorical nature of a wiki is better suited for this than the chronological style of a blog, since different libraries are at different stages in the shared automation project.

Brenda

Article: "Wiki news: Of the people, by the people"
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588-5953168.html

Hi Janie,
Thanks for sharing this article - very interesting! Business Week has it on their website:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_48/b3961120.htm

I thought this comment was funny:
"None of this is to imply, however, that e-mail is on its way to floppy disk-dom"
We still have a lot of libraries where floppy disks are still used regularly. I'm just now starting to see libraries buy computers that do not contain a floppy-disk drive.

I was just in a committee meeting this AM and when we were talking about how to proceed with a project, someone asked if we could continue our work via email... and people seemed hesitant, so we decided to use a blog instead. So many people are just so email overloaded that I think there's a fear that email collaboration won't work -- that key messages will get pushed lower and lower in the in-box without being tackled. Blogs keep things in a neat chronological place, with multiple contributors, etc. I can definitely see that wikis will have a place, too. We're using them a bit, but not to the same degree that we're using blogs (YET).

Again, great article!
Thanks!
Brenda

Ooooo. I like it. Did you hear back?

Speaking of the "obligation to insure that their users get accurate information," I just saw [url http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-11-29-wikipedia-edit_x.htm ]this article[/url] about a false Wikipedia entry --a ficticious and malicious biography of John Seigenthaler Sr., an assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy in the early 1960's. As the object of the abusive entry, Seigenthaler is understandably pretty sour on the idea of untraceable authorship.

I like the idea of "adopting" specific sections of Wikipedia. I wonder how many librarians it would take to do this effectively. Apparently, the section on Star Trek has a hyper-alert tribe of "wiki gardeners" who will correct mischeivous changes within a few hours.

I'll be very interested to hear what Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has to say about your idea. How could he not love it?

Ooooh, this is an interesting article that delves in to the "paper thin protection measures" that Wikipedia put in place last week:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/personal_technology/13382496.htm

On a side note, our library is seriously considering building our own wiki for editing library policies and procedures. It makes perfect sense. Wiki's have so many uses and I think this might be one of the best ways to use the features offered in wiki software -- to collaboratively edit important institutional documents. You will have a history of all our edits, discussions can occur and you can revert back to an older version of a policy if a change doesn't work out.

Here's the reply I received to my Wikipedia inquiry. It's a response from a volunteer.

* * *

Dear Bob Watson,

Thank you for your mail.

"Bob Watson" <BWatson@lvdl.org> schrieb:

> In light of Wikipedia's changing policy (registration required before
> creating a new entry), I'm wondering whether or not Wikipedia would
> consider partnering with the public library community.

Wikipedia is currently evaluating new policies in order to improve the current article basis and to deal with the consequences of having an open editing process. We appreciate any comment on how to do our job better, especially from librarians. I would like to point the following url to you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Librarians

> My own library is in the process of "adopting" the entries for the two
> towns (and also the township) that it primarily serves. We "know" the
> history, the economy, current officials, and the live web links.

I think this is great news and I would love to hear again from you about your experiences in keeping the relevant articles up to date.

> We're probably not the only ones doing this.

I hope not

Yours sincerely,

* * *

The link leads to some librarian activity ... mostly fact checking and a bit o' category creation ... but not something along the lines of what I propose. I think the issue of bogus/malicious/erronious entries is one that Wikipedia will *have* to address even if it makes the process more complex and less "wiki."

It may well be that those of us here need to lead a charge from the library community end of things ... perhaps a brief article in LJ or American Libraries.

I'm up for it. Anyone else?

Hello and happy new year!

I see that there is an upcoming OPAL program all about wikis. See details at:
http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm (January 12th)

If you haven't tried OPAL, I highly recommend checking it out. It's free online programming for all libraries. You can attend web-based sessions on a wide variety of topics. And it's FREE! http://www.opal-online.org

Brenda

Nice project! I'm going to tell our Youth Services dept. about it.

Thank you for posting this.

I tend to think that the result will be to "de-wikify" Wikipedia somewhat ... they've at least announced some requirements for credentialing. Then it becomes problematic, though, as to how a "true but minority opinion" can co-exist with "accepted wisdom."