C2: Let's All Wiki Wiki! Creative Uses for Wikis in Any Library

Deborah Ginsberg, Chicago-Kent College of Law

Simply stated, a wiki is a web application for online social collaboration. The typical characteristics of a wiki include the use of lots of hyperlinks, both internal and external. A wiki usually provides for the easy creation and editing of pages by just about anyone.

There are, however, two big caveats with wikis: 1) there is no editor to control content or authority (as evidenced by the Wikipedia entry on John Seigenthaler Sr) and 2) open editing leaves the pages open for spam.

Example: WikiNews (extensive use of hyperlinks and sources)

Many wikis have a revision history that allows users to track changes to a page and compare different versions of a page (often even side by side). Users can even choose to revert to previous versions.

Wikis also provide a means to host online discussions ABOUT wiki pages.

How are wikis being used in libraries? Patrons may be using them for research, either with a general wiki like Wikipedia or with more subject specific wikis (e.g., Psychology Wiki). There are already some law-specific wikis available, including JurisPedia and Wex. An example of a library-specific wiki is LIS Wiki. Some libraries are creating wikis for patron use, such as Butler WikiRef (includes reference resources and instruction). Libraries are even creating internal wikis, like the one for UConn Libraries IT Services.

There are lots of options available for creating wikis. Some considerations include deciding where it will be hosted, what software to use, and determining who controls what. WikiMatrix is a good tool for deciding which wiki service to use. It allows users to compare the features of various types of wiki software.

People often sell the idea of wikis to new users by emphasizing the fact that you don't need to know HTML to edit a wiki, but each wiki uses its own proprietary wiki syntax, which may be just as daunting as learning html (without being as universally useful).

Popular software and/or hosting choices for wikis include MediaWiki, PBwiki, JotSpot, and Edit This.

Ginsberg has created LawLibWik, a law library wiki that anyone can edit. She hopes that everyone in the profession will start contributing. It can be used to teach research skills to new librarians and to share knowledge with one another.