[Web4lib] wikis in libraries

[Thomas Edelblute]

I have been toying with the idea of setting up an internal wiki for the
library staff.  But it will have to wait until next year for me to get
out from underneath some project first.  The way I envision doing it, I
would set it up initially for the Library Automation Team.  We can put
in here instructions for resolving problems we have encountered, and
basic network configuration information.  Some of the City
Administrative regulations could then be added to it.  If this is
successful, we might open it up to the other library staff for them to
put in answers to challenging reference questions, serve as a depository
for library policies, and other things the library staff might want to
have access to.  The key is to make it relevant to the library staff so
people will use it.

Thomas Edelblute, Public Access Systems Coordinator
Anaheim Public Library

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Hutchens, Chad
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 1:33 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] wikis in libraries

I'm going to have to side with John here.  Wiki's are interesting tools,
but there really isn't any great reason to use a wiki for FAQ's or
policy pages unless you want to let users write your FAQ's and policies
for you.  And I've often contemplated the utility of this along the same
lines as John; i.e. do they (users) really care enough for this to
attractive to anyone but librarians...IMHO this isn't necessarily a
"build it and they will come" type thing.  Even on the linked Univ of
Ohio examples, it doesn't appear to allow user-generated content...I'm
not sure what the real advantage is (other than being able to say you
used a wiki to accomplish it).  Maybe I'm missing something?

In general, the utility of wiki's and blogs in library literature and
conferences seems vastly overdone, to a fault even.  A simple web page
that's laid out correctly with CSS-styled definition lists or unordered
lists will work just as well without having to install anything on a
server somewhere.  As long as you take the time to build a
maintenance-friendly page with XHTML markup

Chad E. Hutchens
Electronic Resources Librarian
Montana State University Libraries
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT  59717-3320
(406) 994-4313 phone
(406) 994-2851 fax
chutchens at montana.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of John Loy
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 1:00 PM
To: Mark Robertson
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] wikis in libraries

Mark,

It sounds like you've got a solution looking for a problem. Would your
library users really want to contribute to a Library wiki? Would they
care enough to take the time? What's in it for them? Also, most of the
publishing uses you mention don't seem to require collaboration and
could easily be realized without a wiki; by almost any web page/content
management tool, in fact.

--
John Loy
Web Designer and Information Architect
University of Virginia Library
phone: (434) 924-7099
fax: (434) 924-1431
552 Alderman Library
http://lib.virginia.edu


On Oct 13, 2006, at 2:39 PM, Mark Robertson wrote:

> Our library is already using wikis internally for committee work etc.

> Now we are exploring the issue of how to use wikis on our library 
> website and beyond as a way of collaborating with our users.  Can 
> anyone suggest examples of libraries using wikis successfully for this

> purpose?  What seems to work best? - wikis as FAQs? wikis as subject 
> pathfinders? wikis on policies? assignment wikis?
>
> --
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Mark Robertson
> Reference Librarian
> Scott Library - York University
> (416) 736-2100 x33526
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY TO WHICH IT IS ADDRESSED AND MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, forwarding, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail or telephone, and delete the original message immediately. Thank you.