LIBR 246-13 Building the Social Library Online

For those of you who may not already know, there is a SLISsers wiki for SJSU's LIS program where students can share knowledge about the program. It's so great for online learners to have a community like this where newbies can benefit from the knowledge of seasoned veterans like you. :)

Wikipedia has been perhaps one of the most debated sources of information on the Internet.  In theory, it's a great idea: anyone can edit the entries.  In theory, it's a bad idea: anyone can edit the entries.  It was the site that brought into question the accuracy of the Internet.  Really, anyone can put up a website.  Wikipedia allowed anyone to edit entries, and in theory, lots of people would be keeping an eye on the site so that wrong information would be spoted by at least twenty people in the world and seek to correct the mistake.   There are people

Personally, Wikipedia is one of my most used resources. For random curiosity, there's no better way to get a quick overview of a subject or to find an obscure trivia fact. From the history of demolition derbies to in-depth discussion of moon craters to  the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, there is something on Wikipedia to get you started. Like Liz described it, it is a great hub.

Wikipedia has proved to be a bit of a dilemma for me.  I've swung back and forth on the issue so many times!  I was definitely one of the later ones to get swept into the web 2.0 flood.  I was in college when Myspace, Facebook, Wikipedia, and all of those things were really getting popular.  But I didn't ever really want to explore.  I was very "academic" in my pursuits, and when I wasn't working on papers and projects, I preferred playing mindless games on my computer over editing an encyclopedia, online or otherwise.  All this to say, I hadn't even

Well, I was editing the page on H. Orton Wiley on my reference shift today. Wiley wrote the theology for the Church of the Nazarene, and also was one of the founders of the University where I work.  We have most of his manuscripts, correspondence, and a lot of miscellaneous other documents that he produced in our archive.

I just checked the Wikipedia page that I edited and I noticed it got flagged four times (!) for writing content, lack of references, the fact that it hadn't been "wikified" (whatever that means?) and some other reason too.  I think the way Wikipedia flags posts like this can be really discouraging to users, especially those who are trying to convince schools and professors that Wikipedia is a valid resource. 

Wikipedia offers many benefits to schools.  Sadly, many schools overlook the fact that this tool offers current information on just about everything.  Wikipedia can be used to teach students not only how to glean from the collective knowledge, but how to add to it - and let us not forget that it’s free.  How many schools can re

There are so many great ways for libraries to utilize wikis: as subject, research, or community guides. I thought one of the best examples from this week was the Plymouth Regional High School Library wiki. The design is appropriate: it doesn't look like a wiki, has a rotating picture, and is simple and clean. It seems to really be geared toward high school students. The teachers for different classes have their own pages where they list links for assignments.

I have got to say that despite the overall condesention of most academics towards Wikipedia, I find it a great resource.  I don't think it is the most authoritative work to use when conducting in depth research, but to get a rough overview of a subject it works great.  In addition, the links posted at the bottom of the page are usually a great way to find even better information when reaching a dead end.

User Generated Participation is...

If I were to fill in the blank,  I would say, it is worth trying.