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Wikis in Practice:Practical Applications of Wikis in the WorkplaceMaryland Library Association Annual Conference, 2008Danielle Whren, Loyola Notre Dame LibraryKaty 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)

Origin Examples

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) Podcasts 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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Wiki or Blog?Wikis

Collaborative Dynamic text Encourages cross linking Thoughtful writing Topical arrangement

Blogs Personal Static text (in theory) Light on cross linking Written in the moment Reverse chronological

arrangement

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Value in Using Wikis Facilitates collaboration in

creating work Requires just Internet

access to use and alter Eases information

sharing Easy to learn

Instantaneous updating not reliant on one person

Non-linear navigation structure

Searchable Inexpensive

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Workplace Benefits Include: Growth in collaborative work Simplified document management Establishment of institutional memory 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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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 UsesInternally

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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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 CollegeKaty Sullivan, UMBC

www.mlawikipresentation.pbwiki.com