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Wikis in Practice:Practical Applications of Wikis in the WorkplaceMaryland Library Association

Annual Conference, 2008

Danielle Whren,

Loyola Notre Dame Library

Katy Sullivan,

Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, UMBC

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Wiki Overview

“A type of web page designed so that its content can be edited by anyone who accesses it, using a simplified markup language” (OED Online)

Wikipedia – www.wikipedia.org Wiktionary – www.wiktionary.org Wikitravel – www.wikitravel.org WikiIndex – www.wikiindex.org

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Characteristic Wiki Features

Editing Comments History Recent Activity RSS Feed Search (Sandbox)

www.mlawikipresentation.pbwiki.com

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Wikis and Library 2.0 Applying Web 2.0 technologies and practices in

a library setting Web 2.0 – the Web as “platform”

Technologies associated with Web 2.0: Social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace) Social bookmarking and tagging (de.lic.ious) Media sharing (Flickr, YouTube) RSS feeds Mashups Blogs Wikis

Of these tools, wikis are the most suited for text collaboration, appropriate for multiple authors working on the same document.

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Value in Using Wikis

Facilitates collaboration in creating work Eases information sharing Easy to learn Inexpensive Requires just Internet access to use and alter Instantaneous updating not reliant on one

person Searchable

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Workplace Benefits Include:

Simplified document management Establishment of institutional memory Growth in collaborative work Increased staff feedback / “voice” Improved customer service

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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki

Locally Hosted Data and wiki files stored locally Customizable No space limitations Requires technical expertise and time Examples: MediaWiki, PMWiki

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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki

Hosted Service Hosted on creating company’s server Little customization available Space limitations Little technical expertise needed Examples: PBWiki, WetPaint

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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki

Other Considerations WYSWIG Editor Cost Security

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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki

Compare wikis at WikiMatrixhttp://www.wikimatrix.org/

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Question for Attendees

Please let us know if you have every used Wiki Matrix by giving a thumbs up/thumbs down.

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Considerations in Building a Wiki

Have goals Solicit input Project selection Structure Access Documentation

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Considerations in Maintaining a Wiki

Appoint a wiki “gardener” Make it easy to use and low risk Promotion and Marketing Training opportunities Ensure objectivity and fairness Issues of ownership and copyright

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Examples of Library Uses

Internally Schedules To-do lists Logins & Passwords Directory/Contact Information Policies & Procedures Document Repository Projects Committee/Team sites

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Examples of Library Uses

Externally Research Guides Collaboration with patrons Collaboration with other libraries/librarians

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Question for Attendees

Can you think of a specific use for a wiki in your library? Please share with everyone in the chat room.

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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki

Why MediaWiki? Wanted to host locally Free Open Source Software Stable platform WYSIWYG editor No space limit Lots of good documentation

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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki

Security No account creation necessary Appointed staff member to check wiki for

spam or inappropriate content

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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki

Wiki Content Meebo widget Subject guides Tutorials and help guides Information on course assignments Answers to frequently asked reference

questions

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The Loyola Notre Dame Research Wiki

http://researchwiki.lndlibrary.org

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UMBC Library Wikis in Blackboard

Internal projects and documents – necessary login not an issue

Very secure Branding/customizing not important Familiarity Permanence

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Wiki Examples in Reference

New employee training manual Committee/group workspace

Brainstorming, collaborative writing, planning documents, repository

Peer training archive Instructions and protocols

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Library-Wide Wiki Examples

Library Assembly space Archive of agendas and minutes, planning

discussions, feedback forum Cheers Committee space

Event planning

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Issues that Have Arisen

Mixed levels of participation Multiple locations of saved attachments /

multiple versions of documents

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Benefits We’ve Seen

Real collaboration Better management of and access to

documents More efficient committee and group work Greater awareness and tracking of work

output

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Where We’re Going

Moving content to Confluence Wiki Including “fun” projects to increase

participation

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Thank you!

Danielle Whren, Loyola Notre Dame College

Katy Sullivan, UMBC

www.mlawikipresentation.pbwiki.com