Wiki Watchee

So, you may ask, how is a wiki different from other sorts of websites? Well, unlike a blog, a wiki is a collaborative website. It is designed for the easy sharing of knowledge/plans etc. by anyone who wishes to contribute. Unlike a message board / bulletin board, people can edit contributions made by others. That is good for some applications, not so good for others. I guess there is an ethereal version of a paper trail to track changes, though I'm not sure how that works.

I followed a few of the library wiki links, and came across some interesting stuff. There was a good article about why cell phones are so annoying; it included an actual study with data. I don't remember what trail of links I followed, but later found it again through a Google search. There was a good article about Wiki etiquette. Also enjoyed the Ann Arbor wiki, which brought back memories of Shakey Jake, and the annual Hash Bash (though why anyone would want to criticize a plate of steaming hot, delicious corned beef hash is beyond me).

How, then, might wikis be used in a library environment? They could be a good tool for sharing information within a branch, especially if easily searchable by keywords. Any business open as many hours as we are, with staff on different schedules, has a problem keeping everyone current on everything going on.

A wiki could also help with collaberation among staff at various levels in the organization. Many library systems have an overly "top-down" management style. Decisions are made at upper levels without any input from the worker bees as to the ramifications for staff and patrons. It would be so much better to discuss policy issues and changes on a wiki long before final decisions are made.