Library Wikis --Examples

I included in the group-assignment wiki a number of wikis showing the many different ways in which libraries can use the wiki format. I thought the BizWiki and the USC Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library wiki in particular were very professionally done. I will focus in this blog post on the ones I did not mention in the group wiki.

The Wyoming Authors Wiki, affiliated with Wyoming State Library, impressed me. It clearly states on the main page that it invites contributions. I like the fact that this wiki clearly states its purpose as “a clearinghouse for information on book authors who've lived in Wyoming or who write about Wyoming” and also clearly states how to use it, and that in order to contribute, you have to register, and that in doing so, you are joining the book community. This should keep away any malicious contributions and spam. The wiki presents a useful, rich, and easily accessible source of information on authors, organized by author, county and genre..

The Princeton Public Library Booklovers Wiki was created for the 2006 Summer Reading Club. I would have expected it to be powered up for the 2007 club by now. It also receives contributions—book reviews—by not only library staff but also wiki members—in this case, probably book club members. It is well linked to the Library’s website and catalogue. It is a nice idea, with a specific purpose and I hope it continues.

Bull Run Library Wiki, by contrast, looks very amateurish. Its purpose is not clear. It has a personal blog attached to it, and states that it is a one-person project (not receiving contributions from anyone else), with a disclaimer separating it from the Prince William County Library System website--interesting! Perhaps including a larger community in the creation of the wiki would make the wiki a more worthwhile source. The wiki has links to external sources for book ideas (not related to the library collection), a link to a staff wiki, and to a personal blog, probably written by the wiki creator. The wiki has not been visited very frequently, and I don’t think it contains enough information to be of great value.