LIS 9763

Holy alliteration!!
 
There are a whole slew of ways in which wikis can be implemented for use within the library. I think there's so much potential definitely because there is very little technical prowess required in order to run a wiki. There's the need to have it initially set up and configured, but the actual content can be contributed by anyone who has the knowledge.

Wikis are great tools for subject guides and pathfinders, as seen in the St. Joseph County  Public Library. I find it interesting that only librarians can edit the wiki. I think there should be an opening for public contribution, but perhaps on a delayed publishing schedule? I also really enjoyed theOhio University Libraries Biz Wiki, and I will be perfectly honest and say that my opinion is highly influenced by their use of MediaWiki. I'm also impressed by both the quantity and quality of the information available.

the Butler WikiRef could be a great resource if the references included had more annotations and detail as to how, exactly, they could help a user. The Butler WikiRef is an interesting approach, but I would be concerned about patron use simply due to the lack of detail provided. Plus the constantly changing breadcrumbs are a distraction and a bit confusing to the user. Breadcrumbs are not necessarily the best tool for a wiki in that their intention is to show the user where they are in the architecture of the site.

I think the article When Wikis Won't Work could be applied to any type of social media, and most (if not all!) of the points raised should be considered not only when implementing a wiki, but a blog, or a second life presence, or a delicious account. It's important to maintain these tools, and if the resources aren't available to do it then perhaps those resources would be best applied elsewhere.