Thing 17 : Wiki sandbox

I added a comment to the Maryland libraries sandbox, which was not difficult to do, but I was unable to add my blog to the list of all Maryland library blogs, someone had inadvertently deleted the Blogs! Here page. This problem is exactly what critics have been saying all along about wiki, when people are allowed to edit freely, the content of the wiki can easily be compromised.

Once law and order is restored to the wiki community, I will try adding my blog to the master list again.

Thing 16 : Wiki

At first glance, some of the library wikis mentioned in "23 Things" look very much like an intranet or a website, in fact they are the sum of many efforts and results of an incredibly versatile tool, WIKI.

A conventional website or intranet is a one-way communication tool, adding and changing contents is often managed by a few. Wiki is less rigid by design. It offers a place and an opportunity for people to meet, to collaborate, and to assemble information without leaving their desks, and results are instant.

Libraries can use wiki to conduct meetings, it saves phone calls, e-mails, text messages, and travelling time and expenses.

Librarians can pool their knowledge and set up resource wikis for internal and external use.

For libraries with limited resources, wiki can be used as an alternative to website or intranet Wiki can also serve as a community bulletin board for local groups and organizations, or a public forum for people to voice their opinion and exchange their ideas.

Wiki offers libraries alternative ways of communication, it can easily be adapted to different library needs, its democratic nature makes it an appealing addition to any organization.