Wiki Wa Wa

My main experience of Wiki's up until now has been that of "Wikipedia". While in most cases it can be informative, the main disadvantage is that anyone can edit and add information, which may not necessarily be correct.  I think it's this unreliability, which makes the academic world cautious about the use of Wiki's.

I must admit that I think Wikipedia is ok to use as a starting point, but as librarians we have access to so much much more relevant, peer reviewed information that we tend to marketing to our students.

However Wiki's used in the correct way, can be good at enabling people to collaborate on shared documents and tasks, such as with the Cambridge teachmeet.  The site is easy to edit and means that people who wish to be involved can participate themselves rather than having to get a mediator to post things for them.

I think my main concerns about wiki's, is the content moderation with a shared wiki, who is responsible for that aspect?  Everyone or just one person?  It could lead to problems if someone else edits what you have written and your not happy them doing that.

We do have the basis of a Library wiki, in fact we have one hung off the IT Managers Wiki, which he used all the time as document storage for students documents.  Unfortunately ours isn't yet used, except as a means for accessing the library calendar off site.  So I think a watch this space is possible if I can think how and what to put up on it!

Googling around again or not!

I hope that my fellow Cam23ers won't mind me not re-exploring Google Docs for Cam23, as I've used it previously, so will comment on my experiences from then, in order to catch up with everyone else who's finished already!

Firstly I have to say that although on the surface it seemed a great idea, the reality for me wasn't great.  In my last job a fellow colleague definitely had the Google Docs bug and encouraged us all to use it for sharing documents.  I realise that the main advantage of Google Docs, enables you to access your documents anywhere and make edits, along with the provision to work collaboratively and share documents.  However I have to agree with Adian's post on Google Docs, as although Google provides a "lite" version, it doesn't allow for the same functionality as Word.  And this is the main disadvantage I find with some of these Online products.

Secondly I did however try to add some further tips to "News from Nowhere's" Moving House Document.  So the collaboration aspect does work quite well, although having read some posts I notice that some Cam23ers have had problems with sharing their documents.

Thirdly I know that I will end up using Google Docs as more collaboratively programs develop with other librarians in Cambridge and maybe even within my College, but I have to say that although its useful in a limited way, I'm still not a fan.