Week 6: Wikis & Wikipedia

The Wonderful World of Wikis

This week we’ll learn about:

• wikis
• Wikipedia
• how libraries are using wikis
• free wiki tools

Listen to our sixth podcast and read the content below. If you have questions about anything along the way, be sure to contact us. We’re happy to help!



All About Wikis

Wikis use software that allows multiple people to easily edit, create, link and collaborate on shared web pages with little or no web-coding know-how. They get their name from the Hawaiian word WikiWiki, which means quick. They were named this way, because they make collaborating on a web site very quick and easy.

Take a look at the following video to get an idea of how wikis work:

Wikis vs. Blogs
Wikis differ from blogs in the following ways:

• Blogs are organized in reverse chronological order, while wikis can be arranged however you like with links between pages building the structure.
• Wikis are more fluid than blogs - pages can easily be added and developed without the constraints of a “post.”
• Blogs are good for disseminating information and/or starting a dialogue, while wikis are better for collaborative documentation or guide building that works toward a common goal.

Wikis and blogs are alike in the following ways:

• Both have commenting features built into them.
• Both can be used and developed collaboratively by many people.
• Both provide RSS (you can subscribe to most wikis, just as you would a blog - look for the orange RSS icon)

So, when is it good to use a wiki? Read When To Use a Wiki for some good tips

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is the most well-known wiki on the planet and is essentially a free encyclopedia on the web that anyone can edit. As of September 2007, Wikipedia had approximately 8.29 million articles in 253 languages! You can learn more about Wikipedia by reading the page about the wiki (which includes information about the accuracy of the information provided on the site) and by exploring what’s available by searching for things in which you’re interested.

How Libraries Are Using Wikis

Libraries have really jumped on the wiki bandwagon! At the very least, a wiki could be used to build a library web site. The following examples will show you other ways libraries are using wikis.

• St. Joseph County Public Library’s Subject Guides
• Biz Wiki (Ohio University Libraries)
• University of Minnesota Libraries Staff Wiki
• Antioch University Library Staff Training and Support Wiki
• Wisconsin Heritage Online Wiki
• Library Success Wiki
• Internet Librarian 2007 Wiki
• makingchoices (presentation wiki created by Beth and Stef of Project Play)
• Davis (CA) Wiki (not done by a library, but a fantastic example of a community site that could be created by a library!)

Would wikis help solve a problem at our library? We hope the examples above provided a good range of ideas for you to explore.

Free Wiki Tools

There are some fantastic, free wiki tools out there if you’re interested in playing around with this kind of application.

• pbwiki (free, hosted service, extremely easy to use, and highly recommended!)
• MediaWiki (open source software that can be loaded on your own web server)
• PmWiki (open source software that can be loaded on your own web server - wiki looks more like a web site)

You can use WikiMatrix to compare the features of different wiki applications to find the best one for your situation. You might also want to read pbwiki’s Best Practices for Creating a Collaborative Wiki to ensure the success of your wiki as you get started.

Assignment

1. Search Wikipedia for an entry on a community in Racine County.
2. If you find an entry, check the External Links section (usually at the bottom of the page) to see if the is a link to our library.
3. Write a post in your blog about your impressions of this week’s exercises and any thoughts you have on how you or your library could (or could not) use a wiki.