Wikis

So I'm reading this article by Meredith Farkas (http://www.webjunction.org/social-software/articles/content/438229) about wikis and their potential use in libraries. It's overall not bad, except I don't think she was careful enough about hiding either her bias or the bias she assumes her audience has. From what I'm reading, she's clearly writing for librarians who are A) older and/or B) not comfortable with technology. For example:

"It can be difficult for people to get used to the idea of a website that anyone is allowed to add to or edit. The notion of private property is so deeply embedded in our society that it’s difficult to imagine going onto someone else’s website and changing things, even when they want us to. "

Um, no? Not for me and my generation, at any rate. The idea of popping in to a website and adding content is pretty much run-of-the-mill for us. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, a wide variety of message boards, even things like fanfic sites (http://www.fanfiction.net/) or original fiction sites (http://www.fictionpress.com/) or video creating sites (http://www.animoto.com/ - and I really recommend this site, it's awesome) are a part of our normal lives.

All that to say, I wish she would have stayed away from assuming that all of her readers are uncomfortable with this.

Because we're not.

The wide majority of the article, though, is really good. I enjoyed her suggestions for how libraries can use wikis; I especially liked the idea of subject guides as wikis. I can see CML using wikis for things like organizing when different branches have tech trainings or FOL booksales, and also for lists of specialty DVDs or books, like Triple Crown books or horror movies.

Also posted a few things on the CML wiki sandbox. Fun, except I kind of wish the formatting was different. This seems more like a many-paged message board. Not as clean or streamlined as I'd wish, but then again, I'm kind of picky about that.