Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wikis and their use in libraries

A wiki is a perfect example of Web 2.0 technology; it is a blog site created for social and public use to disseminate information and allows anyone who is registered to add or change the information available. Wikipedia is the most famous wiki available online, though it does have a few problems. There are some instances of incorrect information being posted in articles and lack of authoritative resources, but overall it is an excellent site to learn about any topic imaginable. It is also a great example of the public supporting the spread of knowledge and adding to articles for the sake of education.

I've used wikis a few times in my coursework and really enjoy how easy they are to create and use. I'm surprised more libraries don't utilize wikis in their marketing efforts and information literacy goals. A wiki is the perfect platform to introduce information literacy concepts, answer patron questions, clear up misconceptions and confusion, and allow patrons to communicate with each other regarding IL topics. I included the use of a wiki in my mock teaching session because I thought a wiki on the library website was an ideal way to follow up with class participants and continue their literacy education.

No comments:

Post a Comment