[Web4lib] wikis in libraries

[Ranti Junus]

We're experimenting on using wiki for our state-wide project, the Making 
of Modern Michigan (http://mmm.lib.msu.edu).  It's still under "beta" 
testing even though it's already more than one year.  We use the typical 
wiki practice: open for everybody to participate.  Not too many 
community members actively  participate using this interface, so quality 
control/quality assurance from our part is minimal.

As for our students/faculty/staff users, I don't know what kind of 
service that best served by a wiki.  Most of our services are in the 
"spoon-fed" fashion. :-)  The library service that involves our users 
(beside our Ask a Librarian service), AFAIK, is suggesting a material to 
be purchased for our collection; that's done through a web-based form.


thanks,
ranti.

--
Ranti Junus, Web Services
Michigan State University Libraries
East Lansing, MI 48824
+1.517.432.6123 x231



Mark Robertson wrote:
> I'm the original poster who asked about the use of wikis on library 
> websites.  Probably my original post did make it sound like a "solution 
> in search of a problem" as some have said.  My question arises from a 
> realization that there are new "genres" of web writing which may open up 
> new horizons (new services, resources, or ways to engage with our users) 
> for our library websites.  I guess I was trying to find out if any best 
> practices are emerging in terms of the use of wikis on library 
> websites.  If there is a issue our library is hoping to address in 
> considering wikis, it is the issue of how to engage more with our users 
> and make our website more responsive to our users' needs.  Obviously 
> there are lots of ways to do this.  My question was to find out if 
> patterns of success are emerging in the way libraries are using wikis to 
> achieve this goal.
> 
> Mark Robertson
> Reference Librarian
> York University
> Toronto, Canada
>