2. What is a wiki?
• An expandable collection of web pages which allow users to quickly and
easily add, remove or edit content.
• Wikis allow people to work collaboratively on web pages, editing the work of
others without creating multiple versions of the same work, however
changes are recorded and listed for all to see.
• No knowledge of html is required to create, or edit a wiki and no special
software is required to download.
• Access to editing a wiki can be controlled to limit who can edit the wep
pages.
3. Wikis vs. blogs
Wikis Blogs
• No one owns the content • The blogger owns their posts
• Anyone can edit other people’s • Only the blogger can edit their
work work (other people can only
comment)
• Good for collaborative work
• Good for disseminating
information
• Perpetual work in progress
• Posts are permanent
4. Wikis in plain english
Watch this short video on Wikis produced by the
Common Craft Show.
(This video can also be found at Blip.tv and TeacherTube.)
11. Take a look at several library
related wikis
1. Go to Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
2. Search for ‘libraries’ and read the entry that is retrieved.
3. Read several of the pages that are to linked to this entry.
12. Add a wiki entry
1. Go to the Health Libraries Wiki Sandpit at
http://healthlibrarieswiki.wetpaint.com/
(Just like in a physical sandpit, the aim of this wiki is to have fun and
experiment).
2. Before you are able to edit this wiki you must sign in. Click on the Join
This Wiki button in the top right hand side of the screen.
13. 2. Click on the Sign Up Now
button.
2. You will be taken to a new
screen where you enter your
personal details to create a
Wetpaint account. You may
use an alias if desired. Click
Join.
5. You may then add a profile
image if desired or you can skip
this step for now.
6. Please skip the next step of
inviting others to join this wiki.
7. You are now a member of the
Health Libraries Wiki Sandpit
and can create or edit pages.
14. 8. Add your own entry to the wiki on a topic of your choice. Several topic
pages have already been created to get you started or you may like to
start a new page of your own.
9. To edit a wiki page, go to the page you wish to contribute to. On this page
click on the Easy Edit button.
10. Type your text in the text box that appears on the page. An Easy Edit
Toolbar will appear which you can use to edit your text.
11. When you have added your text, click Save which is on the Easy Edit
Toolbar.
15. 12. An Add an Edit Note box will appear. Edit Notes are used to track the
changes made to the wiki. Adding an Edit Note is optional and you may
click on Skip Edit Note if preferred.
13. You have now successfully edited a wiki. Congratulations.
16. Blog prompts
Don’t forget to blog about your wiki experience.
• What did you find interesting about the wiki concept?
• Do you see a future for the use of wikis in you library?
• Do you feel comfortable in showing others how to edit a wiki?
• Would you set up your own personal wiki?
17. Other tools to try
• Wetpaint is only one of many wiki software that is available. As with
all Web 2.0 tools different people prefer different software depending
on their user requirements.
• Some of the other wiki software available include:
18. Further reading
• 7 Things you should know about Wikis
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf
• 7 Things you should know about Wikipedia
http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7026.pdf
• Wiki or Won’t He? A Tale of Public Sector Wikis
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue49/guy/
• An introduction to wikis
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/documents/briefings/briefing-78/html/
• Quick, free and ready to use: the wiki concept
http://www.contentmanager.net/magazine/article_1428_wiki_concept.html
