Tricky Wiki?

The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know. 

Once again, I begin my blog with a statement about how little I understood about particular areas of the internet.  Today it is Wikis.  I actually had no idea that a wiki was a type of website.  I thought that Wiki was some random compilation of letters that they came up with to start "Wikipedia".  I have, of course, used Wikipedia, but thought that it was an anomaly.  A brilliant, but isolated example of collaborative efforts.  Once again, I was wrong.

Wikis are websites that multiple parties can contribute to or edit.  They are often centred around a topic and people will add things like articles, recipes, pictures and the like.  Wikis can have many more applications then just an encyclopedic use.  There are wikis for lovers of bacon, wikis based around travel tips, movie fan wikis  and professional wikis for businesses to collaborate and learn from each other. 

If you think you know a thing or two about nearly anything then you can probably find a wiki revolving around that topic.  But be prepared as there may be someone out there who knows more about that same subject and has the ability to edit your work.  For that reason know-it-alls and those who can't handle anyone else's opinion should stay away - you may find out that you aren't as smart as you thought!  For the rest of us, they are a great resource and due to the increased usage are becoming more and more reliable. 

Three of the wiki-building sites out there are Wikia, Wetpaint and PB works.  Wikia and Wetpaint are free and seems to have lots of smaller, fun and more personalized sites.  They are easy to navigate, interesting to browse and have great tips on building your own wiki (Wetpaint in particular).  PBworks is not nearly as much fun.... but is great for a professional, business-based wiki.  It is harder to browse and though it's basic wiki is free, there are fees if you want to do anything fancy.  It also has a much more professional looking template.

There is a place for them in libraries, though I'd say less so than some of the other online mediums discussed previously in this blog.  Specialty libraries like university, scientific or perhaps law libraries may have more use for them than the average public library since their patron base is more distinct and interested in many of the same topics.  They can have wikis where patrons can discuss or debate the topics concerning their discipline.  These wikis would also be a great soapbox for people rallying others around their cause.  High school libraries would probably get a lot of mileage out of a wiki.  With the amount of technology used by teenagers in particular they could be a viable option to get students involved with their library.  So take a minute to browse through the interesting world of wikis.  They might be right for you!