[This page was last updated 2009.6.15]

A ‘wiki’ is a site or the software operating the site which allows anyone to create and/or edit material, in a collaborative effort. It’s an easy way for users to share information and answer questions. The Wikipedia is one of the best known examples of this.

A wiki is a great online collaborative tool. It allows multiple users to comment, make changes (and go back to older versions), add sections, develop new ideas and functions. It’s also becoming very popular for classes to do group projects. Since a wiki can be set up so that editing only takes effect when it is finally approved, and the information can be edited over and over by many people until everyone agrees, this allows a final result that the group can stand behind.

A blog, on the other hand, is more of a single-voice process (even if several people provide the voices) — you don’t edit other people’s posts on a blog, just comment.

HOWEVER – not all wikis allow anyone to edit materials. In fact, it is quite common to limit the people who can contribute to a wiki. Companies and organizations are now using both external wikis to inform and assist people, and internal wikis for staff members to share information.

The latest posts on this topic are available by clicking here.

Search the Boreham Library catalog for wiki information.

UWM Libraries have a Why Wiki? page that explains wikis, the pros and cons, how libraries are using them, and how to start your own.

• Examples
• Software and Sites
• 15 Productive Uses for a Wiki from Web Worker Daily.
• pbworks’ Educators wiki for examples, templates, resources

Examples

Wikipedia is an example of a wiki.
An example of a library-created wiki is at BizWiki at Ohio U.

The Boreham Library staff wiki is here. It is intended only for library staff training and is very informal, but it has examples of two or more staff members contributing. This was created using the free educator services at pbWiki.com

Software and Sites

Compare wiki software at Wikimatrix.org.
School Library Journal helps you ask Which Wiki is Right for You?.

• pbworks (formerly pbwiki) free create-your-own wiki.  The manual is here.  The Boreham Library staff uses this for staff training.
  
• TWiki.org TWiki is a web site editing wiki. This is the basis for the UA Fort Smith web site editing. The campus web site is actually a wiki, created and set up with certain parameters by the webmaster.
• MediaWiki software for your site
• JotSpot free wiki host to create your own wiki
• MediaWiki freeware used for Wikipedia
• Wikia Start a new Wikia free host
• Wiki free host for wikis
• SeedWiki free host with VERY SIMPLE wiki – no programming required
• Antioch U. library staff training wiki using SeedWiki
• WetPaint.com a more colorful host for free wikis.