Wikis in Libraries: Enhancing Services, Promoting Sources, and Building Community

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Wikis in Libraries: Enhancing Services, Promoting

Sources, and Building Community Library 2.0 Seminar

June 13, 2007

Chad F. Boeningerboeninge@ohio.edu

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What is a Wiki?

A website in which content can be created and edited by a community of usersStrength of the resource is often dependent on the strength of the community

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Wiki as technical documentation

http://codex.gallery2.org/Main_Page

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Wiki as fan site

http://lostwiki.abc.com/

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Wiki as a web site

http://executiveplanet.com

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Wiki as professional organization

http://www.libsuccess.org/

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Wiki as human knowledge

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What about blogs?

Typically have better RSSReverse-chronological postingSearchable, but results not as usefulCan be browsed, but is limitedAuthored by one or a few

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Library Applications

Wikis for internal library communication

Wikis as collaborative tools for the larger organization

Wikis to communicate with library users

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Internal Wikis

Departmental communication

Reference Wiki

• Stumper questions

• Assignments

• Library policies

• FAQ’s and links

• Meeting Minutes

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Internal Wikis

Wiki content becomes a knowledgebase

Content is keyword searchable

Content can be organized by category to allow easy browsing

Anyone can add/edit/read content regardless of location

RSS feeds available for new edits

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Group Collaboration

A library-hosted wiki can put the library at the center of a project

A wiki can be used to bring groups together in a virtual space

Reduce the barrage of email

Example: Learning Communities

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External Wiki Applications

Communicate with library users

Wiki as a research guide

• Use to replace traditional html research guides/pathfinders

• Communicate sources to researchers and library users

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Traditional Research Guides

Redundancy of resourcesNo interlinkingMultiple edits of the same contentNot searchableNo way to measure useTimely updates are difficult

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Wiki as a Research Guide

Previously had 3 research guides• Business Research Guide• International Business Research Guide• Marketing Research Guide

Redundancy of resourcesNo interlinkingMultiple edits of the same content

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The Biz Wiki

Organized by area of research needBrowse by category or alphabetSearchable by keywordUsers can edit/add contentInterlinked articles allow for increased access to information

http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/

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Dynamic Content

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Dynamic Content

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“On the Fly” Content

1. Email question from patron

2. Respond to patron3. Similar question via

IM4. Use content of

previous question to create wiki article

5. Answer is out of email and on the web

6. Easier future access to information

Wiki Article

IM Question Answer Email

Reference Email

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Adding an Article

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Feedback on the Wiki

“You weren’t around, so I showed them the Biz Wiki Guide to Doing Business in Another Country, and they were satisfied.”--Reference Librarian“I had no idea how to find industry financial ratios, so I just searched for ‘ratios’ in the Biz Wiki, and low and behold, you had an article that helped me help the patron.” --Reference Librarian

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More Wiki Uses

Student Research WikisFirst-year experience wikiCampus collaborationMulti-disciplinary subjects (Latin American Studies/Women’s Studies/Film)Collaboration among librarians

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So You Want a Wiki

Finding a purposeChoosing software of serviceSetting up a wikiCreating a community

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Find a Purpose

Wikis are cool, but they’re not the next hula hoop, iPod, or Uggs.What void will the wiki fill?How will it make communication and collaboration easier?How do others feel about the current system?

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Choosing Software

http://www.wikimatrix.org/

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Locally Hosted Options

Require experience with administrating dynamic websites (php & MySQL)Require a desire to experiment with open source softwareAllow for plentiful options for customizing look and feelData lives on your server

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Wiki farms/services

Requires very little technical experienceFree versions can be slowLimited options for customizationNo need to worry about upgradesSupport can vary, but is better than DIY

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Setting up a wiki

Populate with existing data or create new contentSeek input from potential users about content and layoutGet/steal ideas from others

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Get ideas from others

http://wikiindex.org/

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Creating a community

Start with a core group of users to add content and build momentumGet buy-in from others Reference wiki articles in blog posts, emails, and other communication methodsDon’t be a control freak

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When is a wiki done?

It’s never doneA static wiki defeats the purpose of a wikiMaintain links, create new pages, edit old ones to insure viability of the wiki

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Is a Wiki for You?

Wikis are flexible

Wikis can be adapted to meet your needs

Wikis save time

Wikis require frequent contributions and edits

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Wiki Challenges

Getting others to contribute• Faculty, students, other librarians

More content = more maintenanceMaintaining organization and structure with growth of contentDifficult to see new contentSpam, Spam, and more Spam

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Wiki Strengths

Extend the reach of the librarian• Promote sources• Teach research skills

Make the job of the librarian easierMake information and knowledge more accessiblePotential for contributing to the academic learning community

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Lessons Learned

Have a purpose• Will the wiki offer something new?

Provide structure• A blank wiki is difficult to use

Be flexible• A wiki may be used differently than you

intended

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More Lessons Learned

Have reasonable expectations• Your users may not think wikis are as

cool as you do

Be patient• People appreciate innovation, but

need time to adapt to new technologies

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Questions??