# 16 Wikis

"A Wiki is a quick-to-build, easy-to-edit website on which all information can be edited, changed, or rewritten by the users or members of the site". (Wiki = fast or quick). It's a way of getting information published on-line quickly and easily, without the need for an IT degree or knowledge of HTML.

In a public library context, setting up a wiki, accessible through the library's website, could be a great way of involving library customers. For example, we could ask them to post reviews of books they have enjoyed and even make comments about books that have already been reviewed. This could result in a club-like atmosphere, which would be attractive to certain groups of library users, particularly the 10 - 18 age group. Separate wikis could be established to satisfy different interests - cooking, gardening, astronomy, etc.

The main problem or disadvantage with wikis is maintaining editorial control, though this seems to be solved by limiting editing to specific people who must have an account and log in before any editing can take place. Those authorised to contribute to or edit a wiki could be limited to staff members (as in the St Joseph County Public Library's subject guides wiki - http://www.libraryforlife.org/subjectguides/index.php/Main_Page - ) or through email confirmation of address http://libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Main_Page - Library Success, a best practices wiki, which asks for email confirmation due to vandalism problems. Some wikis even charge for membership - Princeton Public Library's gold membership for the Book Lovers Wiki is $75 a year, but it does offer the chance for reviewers to win prizes.

In summary, from the small amount I have explored and regardless of the possible pitfalls, I can see how wikis could be used by public libraries. I have even started my own wiki - http://mysteryworld.pbwiki.com/mysteryworld - though I don't know if I will get time to do much with it. At present, it is definitely a work in progress.