Wacky Wiki

Wikis are a very good, if underused tool. A wiki does not have to be like wikipedia, a semi-authoritative compendium like an encyclopedia. Think of it as a multi-user word processing program with easy organizing and searchability functions. It's a communication tool, an instruction manual, a listing of educational programs given and feedback on those programs. Wikis are hotly debated because of the possibility that contributors may provide incorrect information that does not go through a formal review process prior to publication. In the old style, people would write things up in Word and send them through email to an authority or arbiter. The arbiter would review and edit, then take responsibility (or delegate it) for publishing the stuff in print or on the web. There is probably some truth to this criticism. However, even centrally published info can have mistakes and inaccuracies, and it certainly can and often does get out of date without anyone updating it. So the platform itself is neither good nor bad; it is only as good as the input.

Libraries have been doing some innovative things with wikis, though it is hard to tell how successful these initiatives are or, if intended for use by the public, how frequently they are used. Some are using wikis to post instructional information (accessible through the library website) on how to use the library, the library website, library services, etc.; how to get to the branches, info about each branch, etc. Others are using wikis to gather information together as syllabi for in-house educational sessions. St. Joseph County Public Libary (midwest) has a wiki that allows customers to browse through info resources by topic. Some use them instead of blogs to share and amass opinions on books and films. At least one system is encouraging librarians to make entries about how they handled specific reference questions, so that other librarians can search by keyword and see how those topics were handled.

It gets back to the same question: Are these resources, once created, being used consistently? Are customers viewing and using them? Are we straining to provide info and services that customers are not going to go after? I don't know. I noticed that systems most committed to this concept have dedicated staff to coordinate the wikis. Are we ready for that kind of commitment?