Colorado Libraries 2.0

2a. Wikis – PBWorks

The What

A wiki is a collaborative Web site and authoring tool that allows users to easily add, remove, and edit content. Wikis are attractive because 1) Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit, or delete content 2) Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom 3) Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed and 4) Users in most cases do not need to know HTML (the “code” in which Web pages are created) in order to add and edit content.

The Why

Wikipedia, the online open-community encyclopedia, is the largest and perhaps the most well known of these knowledge sharing tools. As the use of wikis has grown over the last few years, libraries all over the country have begun to use them to collaborate and share knowledge. Among their applications are pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis, ALA conference wikis, and library best practices wikis.

The How

Discovery Exercise

1. Go to PBWorks introductory page and look around.
2. Go to the Colorado Libraries 2.0 Wiki. From this page, click on “Create an account” on the top right to create an account. If you have trouble, follow the instructions on the Colorado Libraries 2.0 Wiki FrontPage.
3. Once you’ve created your account, go to the exercise page on the right sidebar and add your name, affiliation, and a link to your library’s web site. If you have trouble, follow the instructions on the exercise page.

More for the Curious

• Articles
  • Using Wikis to Create Online Communities – from WebJunction
  • Wiki, wiki, wiki – an overview of wikis written for library staff
  • Wikis: A Beginner’s Look – a short slide presentation that includes examples
• Links to related products or applications
  • MediaWiki
  • Zoho Wiki

 

Collaboration Home | Next up: 2b. Web-based office apps – Google Docs

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About the Authors

Terzah Becker has worked as a reference specialist at Boulder Public Library since 2005. She earned her MLS from the University of Missouri in 2006. Please read her full profile on LinkedIn – add her to your own LinkedIn network while you’re at it!

Matt Hamilton is part hardware geek, part software geek. He brings a punk rock “Do It Yourself” ethos to librarianship, often turning tradition on its head to reshape organizations in way that pushes power down the org chart. Matt was recently chosen for the Colorado Association of Libraries Leadership Institute, where he is learning to elevate his skills as a change agent to ninja status.