Final Project--Wiki

I've thought a lot about a useful project for my library. My first thought was a myspace page. I have actually already put up a rudimentary page. I find it not as easy to do what I'd like with it as I would like. Since then I've developed a lot of enthusiasm about the usefulness of wikis. Wikis are an application which allow any user to add content. I think that something I would like to do is develop a library instruction wiki. Our library is a very small one and most of the librarians are part-time. There is no opportunity for us to all sit together in one place and discuss ideas. We do a lot of informal idea sharing about library instruction classes. However, that's all oral and dependent upon whether the librarian with an upcoming class happens to cross paths with the librarian who last did a particular class. A wiki would provide a place to share this sort of information.

The foremost example of this use of wikis is, of course, the Oregon Library Instruction Wiki instructionwiki.org This is a place where libraries have collected many types of library instruction resources, including: handouts, tutorials, etc. This wiki and library instruction wikis generally are widely praised. See:

www.webstylus.net/vala/node/17

blog.nekls.org/index.php/archives/161

libtechtexas.wordpress.com/2005/11/03/library-instruction-wiki/

One of the beauties of a wiki for me would be the opportunity to circumvent the institutional roadblocks often encountered in my library. We often have difficulty convincing IT of the validity of our needs. Wikis are so easy I can just do it myself! The only in-library problem I might encounter is a feeling on the part of some librarians that there is "too much new technology to keep up with". I think this may be overcome by the usefulness of the wiki. It could overcome a real problem in communication for each of us. I also don't have to worry about money. I can use a free, remotely hosted wiki program.

I might use pbwiki since we already use it for one purpose in the library and staff are familiar with it. I've looked at wikimatrix for other programs that meet my criteria (free, remotely-hosted) and a couple of possibilities are Cospire and Jotspot.

Another beauty of the wiki would be its ease of maintenance. If people start using it much of the maintenance is just getting people to add to it. Since it will be for library in-house use only there should be little or no maintenance of entries, etc. My role should be to encourage use and keep an eye for software updates.

I'm enthusiastic about this new tool for my library and look forward to working on it.