Thing 10 Wikis

Reading the various library wikis was instructive. Creating subject guides and using a wiki as a web presence both struck me as useful ways for libraries to use this format. Less useful was a library wiki for a policy/procedure manual where all staff were allowed to edit. While this approach is democratic and probably a good vehicle to gather staff comments about policies and procedures, I wondered how a new staff member could use the wiki to learn the library's policy on any particular topic. Who has the final word?

For years, teachers have told students not to use encyclopedias for their reports, or at least not to use them as the sole source for information. The contemporary version of this advice is to avoid wikipedia. Just as print encylopedias provide a useful starting point for beginning researchers, wikipedia serves the same function in the online world. Wikipedia often does a better job of covering technology topics and celebrities of current importance in popular culture. Example: when I was looking for information on nings, wikipedia was my first source, and a very useful one.

Teaching K-12 students, and their teachers, to use and evaluate multiple sources of information, including wikipedia, is a role, and important one, for school library media specialists. Public librarians can help by reinforcing information literacy skills and helping students find multiple resources on their topic.