When you hear the word âwikiâ, Wikipedia is most likely the first thing that pops into your head. Perhaps this meme comes to mind when reflecting on the reliability of Wikipedia as a source:Â
All jokes aside, the real magic of wikis seems to have been lost. In a Web 2.0 world, the idea of a collaborative site that allows editing by its users doesnât seem all that special. Even though social media doesnât work in quite the same way wikis do (a reciprocal cycle of writing about a topic, saving that work, then someone new editing that writing) nothing feels exciting about them. This feeling could be due to the wide-spread use of the above-mentioned Wikipedia. As the largest online encyclopedia, it would actually be weird to find someone who hasnât visited the site. Thus, the use of wikis is popular, but very pedestrian.Â
I am quite inexperienced when it comes to the world of wikis. I have, of course, used Wikipedia. But, that doesnât constitute a solid understanding of wikisâ full potential - a potential I believe is still there. A bit of research into library wikis has lead me to one I quite enjoy. HLWIKI International is a wiki for medical librarians. Now, I know that doesnât sound particularly riveting but something about it appealed to my inner nit-picky organization freak.
However, I have one problem with the above wiki: itâs meant only for a librarianâs use. The untapped potential lies in librarian and patron collaboration. Itâs not as if that has never been done before, but itâs quite uncommon. Matthew M. Bejuneâs article âWikis in Librariesâ describes a certain fear regarding the collaboration of these two communities. Libraries want to uphold the standard of correct and reliable information, but are missing out on being connected with their patrons. I believe a happy medium should try to be reached where patrons can express their opinions and be a part of library wikis, but information is written and managed by those qualified for such a task. This balance means libraries could achieve a collaborative reputation while maintaining professionalism.Â
