Wikis

This week's discovery exercise focused on wikis and how libraries might be able to best use them. The most popular and well-known wiki is Wikipedia, which is sometimes helpful and interesting but not all that trustworthy since anyone can edit a page. (I once had an English professor confess to purposely putting up incorrect information about Mark Twain on a Wikipedia page. It's still there, too.) While wikis aren't always the most reliable sources for information, they can be beneficial. For libraries, I really like the idea of having book review wikis. This allows customers to voice their opinion and for others to see what is being said about some popular titles. I also like the idea of a subject guide wiki, which would allow users to share their personal expertise. Though wikis might not be the best resource for researching a person like Mark Twain, they can provide unique ways for customers to interact and become more involved with the library they frequent.