Using wikis in library liaison work: overview & trends

Wikipedian Protester From Randall Munroe’s XKCD: a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language http://xkcd.com/285/

Question: Wikis
Have you heard of wikis ?
A. Yes
B. No
ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology 2007 indicates 41% of undergraduate students use wikis at least once a week. A majority of the class had heard of wikis.

Question: Wikis
Is your library using a wiki?

A. Yes
B. No
C. We plan to
D. Don't know
A survey of Medical Library Assoc. members showed 66% think wikis are important tools for professional work, but only 21% reported wikis important tools in their personal life. A little over half of the class were using wikis at their library.

What is a Wiki?
“ Software that allows users to collaboratively create, edit, link, and organize the content of a website, usually for reference material"
Wikipedia .org
“ A tool that easily facilitates online collaboration and communication“
Mary Carmen Chimato in the book Medical Librarian 2.0 (2006)
“ The simplest online database that could possibly work"
Ward Cunningham, creator of the original wiki

Wiki History
“Wiki” – Adopted from the Hawaiian word wiki-wiki, meaning ‘quick’
1995 – Ward Cunningham creates the first wiki
January 15 th , 2001 – Wikipedia hits the web
Since 2002 – use of wikis has grown exponentially

A Typical Wikipedia Page

Defining Features
Virtual - Information is stored and edited online
Open editing - Pages can be freely written or edited by anyone in real-time (or limited to specific users)
Categories / ‘wiki words’ – Used to reference & link pages within the wiki
Wiki editor – simplified hypertext mark-up language (HTML) used to create & edit pages (or WYSIWYG editor)
Page History – Previous versions of pages are saved & available to view
Discussion area – users can add comments when editing content

Defining Features - Main page Category Discussion, Edit, History Article Discussion, edit, & history tabs Article Category

Defining Features - Wiki Editor Wiki Editor Discussion, edit, & history tabs Article Category

Defining Features - Page History Discussion, edit, & history tabs Article Category Page History view

Defining Features - Discussion WikiProject Medicine : ‘wikiproject’ to cooperate, organize, make suggestions and share ideas on the improvement of the medicine and health-related articles of Wikipedia. Discussion, edit, & history tabs Article Category Discussion Page

The Good, the Bad, and the Wiki
GOOD
Record quick ideas (or longer ones) – more time for formal writing & editing
Collaborate instantly
Access from anywhere
Archive your revisions
Empowers and excites users
BAD
Public - “Dirty laundry isn’t a good public face”
Messy – potential ‘idea soup’
Requires monitoring - “Troll patrol“
Learning curve
Maintenance – set up, back up, etc

Applying Wikis to Liaison Work: Examples
Project management
Internal knowledge base
Resource guides
Online book/journal club
Curriculum support

Project Management
Develop library liaison program with a wiki
Collaborate faster
Stay updated
Content clearinghouse
Library Move Planning Wiki Pickens Library: UT MD Anderson Center http:// pickensmoveplan.wetpaint.com /

Internal Knowledge Base
Repository for policies, procedures, organizational goals, & other pertinent info
Intranet resource (not public)
Interdepartmental communication & collaboration
Good for larger libraries
UBC HealthLib-Wiki University of British Columbia: Biomedical Branch Library http:// hlwiki.slais.ubc.ca / Wiki is members only

Resource Guide
Compared to a static webpage Resource Guide, a wiki is…
“ Semi-public”
Searchable
Easier navigation
Faster to update
Biz Wiki Ohio University Libraries http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page

Online Book or Journal Club
Add an online dimension to already existing program
Outreach to remote populations
Save time
Trend in medical schools
Johns Hopkins University Wiki component to journal club http:// jhedjournalclub.pbwiki.com /

Curriculum Support
Supplement face-to- face classes
Encourage participation & discussion
Track development and changes
Family Medicine Residency Wiki University of Pennsylvania http:// pennfm.pbwiki.com /

Wiki Software
MediaWiki – Wikipedia’s platform
Wetpaint – SNSCE, free, ads
PBwiki - educational focus, no ads, free
Discover more wiki resources
Wikipedia list of wiki software
Wikimatrix – compare wiki engines
WikiWikiWeb Wiki Engine page & Top 10 list

Tips for Wikis in Liaison Work
Clearly define your wiki’s purpose
Identify your users
Consider your institutional support
Implement training
Market your wiki

Question: Wikis
What is your favorite application of a wiki within a liaison program?
Internal knowledgebase/repository
Online version of a book or journal club
Resource Guide
Project Management
Curriculum support
Wouldn't use
Don't know
The majority of class participants indicated they find wikis useful for Resource Guides.

Thank you! Maureen “Molly” Knapp, MA, AHIP [email_address] . edu Twiki, from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century . ‘Twiki’ is also the name of open source wiki software for business enterprises.

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Using wikis in library liaison work: overview & trends

by Molly Knapp

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