Using Wikis to Promote Your Library Resources and Programs

1. Using Wikis to Promote Your Library Resources and Programs Suzanne Severns Librarian, James Bowie H.S. – Arlington, TX sseverns@aisd.net http://martinhslibrary.wikispaces.com

2. What’s a Wiki? • A website where people can edit the page by clicking on the edit tab if it is unlocked. These same people may be able to post to a discussion board if it’s offered. • Wikipedia – Perhaps the most popular wiki of them all though they’ve locked a lot of pages! Did she say Wikipedia???

3. Wikis Have: • Creator who is also an “organizer” (me) • Organizers who may accept/reject members and edit (Ms. Shoop & me) • Members who can edit pages and add to a discussion board(s) on the wiki if allowed access (students/patrons)

4. Things to Consider • Do you want your patrons to edit your page? • Are you willing to allow them to at least post messages to a discussion board? • Do you have time to monitor a wiki? (Email notifications and RSS feeds can help.)

5. Types of Restrictions • Most Restrictive – Use as a website with no editing or discussion boards. • Somewhat restrictive – Use as a website with discussion board(s). • Least restrictive – Let others join and edit pages or post to discussion boards.

6. So Why Bother? • Wikis can be used to provide pages for groups/classes to collaborate and post information they’ve found, ask questions, etc. http://soar2newheights.wikispaces.com/

7. Finding Web 2.0 tools to embed in your website or wiki: • http://web20tools.wetpaint.com • http://www.go2web20.net/ • See last page of handout, too! Beware of “Beta”!!! Beta programs sometimes have glitches, disappear, or cost money later on.

8. Examples http://www.shackstacks.wikispaces.com http://martinhslibrary.wikispaces.com http://joycevalenzaworkshop.wikispaces.com/

9. Mediagraphy • Microsoft. Clipart. 13 June 2010.