Just when I thought the world wide web was being over run by the wicked and unruly (if you believe everything you read or hear in mainstream media), I learn of yet another example of what can happen when the internet is used for good not evil.
As a collaborative tool, wikis are incredible. As with anything, the tool is only as effective as the user, so as long as all collaborators present balanced, unbiased and accurate information (to the best of their knowledge) in a professional manner wikis have the potential to:
- save time - no longer will we have to trawl through threads of emails to reach a decision
- save paper - re-printed procedures and edited documents will be a thing of the past
- be a truly egalitarian creative process, where everyone has the right to contribute and edit
- involve our clients in real and meaningful communication
- tap into a wealth of knowledge otherwise lost - particularly in regard to local history
I love, love, love the Antioch University's Staff Training and Support Wiki! Oh, the things we could do (to quote Dr Seuss). I have visions of procedures being instantaneously updated and accessible. And how fabulous would it be to have a central point for new staff to access all the information they could possibly need ... and if it wasn't there, we could add it!
I have to admit the Games and Public Libraries Wiki freaked me out a bit. A brilliant selection of speakers coming up, but as much as I love learning, I'm not quite ready to make that jump to creating a toon, joining a guild and whispering a secret password to join the lecture. That seems too much like creating a second life to me, and while there are days when I would jump at that opportunity, most of the time it's hard work keeping up with the one life I already have!
I also loved the NSW State Library Reader Advisory Services' Wiki. As has been discussed in the WA Public Libraries Web 2.0 Wiki promoting books and reading is something we should all be striving to do, yet it often is delegated as a less important task. I'm looking forward to participating in the Read It 2011 monthly twitter group.
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