Thing Number Sixteen - Wikis

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit with 2,026,123 articles in English is used by our virtual reference librarians as a reference aid, with emphasis on the word aid, especially for queries relating to popular culture. But best practice guidelines discourage sending chat customers Wikipedia pages in answer to a question. Since anyone can edit, information is not considered authoritative. A Wikipedia versus Britannica debate rages on blogs in library circles.

Libraries are using wikis in innovative ways by creating subject pathfinders and by opening up the maintenance and enrichment of community information to community members.

Interesting possibilities are outlined by Meredith Farkas in Using Wikis to Create Online Communities.

"The library could team up with other local organizations to develop, maintain and add content to the wiki, but the bulk of the content will come from average member of the community. Opening up a community guide to the public allows a wealth of information to flow in that can make the library’s website a true community resource."