Thing 12 - Wikis

Hooray! I Love Wikis!!!



Seriously... I might be an Internet curmudgeon at times... but only because I've been on the Internet since it meant configuring a SLIP connection via Windows 3.1. I've seen lots of changes and sweet ideas. I guess that's why the whole web 2.0 just doesn't impress me. The Internet has always been about shared experiences and coming together to share and develop things. I guess web 2.0 is a more marketable term for impressing business and clients. "Are you web 2.0? No? Do you know you are missing millions of clients and business opportunities? You have to be web 2.0!"



But I digress...



Wikis... Like'em, love'em, want somemore of 'em! Wikis are the best web 2.0 tool (next to YouTube probably) for share helpful, group developed content. I used it for school, researching RC cars, playing MMOs, and work. I like that you have a resourse that can be updated and changed on demand based on new information or changes. From a gamers perspective, being stuck on Weathertop and not knowing where to find the Tankrips you are looking for can be really annoying. Sure I can spend a hour or two running around the Lone Lands looking for them and die a lot and rack up a huge repair bill in silvers, OR I can check out a LOTRO wiki for precise map coordinates and go directly to them. Easy Peasy.

Of course the best wiki is Wikipedia. A font of useful information, checked and annotated. If you doubt the veracity of an entry, check the footnotes to see where the info came from. It is often better annotated than real encyclopedias and more frequently updated to say the least. Sure it can be vandalized, but not easily any longer. Wikipedia has made significant changes to their processes since they first established themselves.

Are wikis useful for libraries? Come on, this is a gimmie. Its a means to gather and organize information. Of course they are useful. You are only limited by your ability to think of how you want to use them. At ACLD we are currently developing a wiki for tracking our floating collection to see where books are needed. If you need to share knowledge or have an open resource for collaboration, Wikis just might be the tool for you.