My Experience with Wikis

Dissertation in one of the compulsory paper in the final semester library and information science subject in University of Mysore.

In the beginning of the dissertation I come to know lots of things through literature review, which are presently at the heart of LIS Research. I come across LISA, ULRICH's International Periodicals Directory and old dissertation of LIS in our department. By this I come to know how the title is chosen for dissertation.

I attended a conference on Web 2.0 which inspired me to take this particular title of my dissertation on wikis.

I started meeting my guide NSH regularly regarding guidance on my topic of study. In the beginning of our meetings, NSH told me to post all the happenings of my dissertation in my blog, which I created for this specific purpose and started posting all the developments regarding my dissertation work. This posting process and feedback helped me to improve my reading and writing skills.

I was unaware of wikis when I entered MLISc. After choosing title of my dissertation, I come to explore loss of things which were hidden to me. I created my own PBWiki to experience the tip of community sharing, online editing and its application in libraries.

My Teacher, My Mentor

"Teachers are like trees, providing us their shadow to achieve heights"

I was lucky to be selected in the group of students, under the NSH guidance I was happy to be involved with NSH team and in the beginning only I got very nice experience, when NSH made me to thorough literature search and work on the topic.

I felt very happy because, he used to inspire us by his words, deeds and used to give us freedom regarding our work as well as life experiences. He used to say on thing that we should always get involved in any work regarding our department because it is our department.

I never hesitated to get solutions for the problem I faced during this tenure. He used to inspire us by telling facts and supplementing them with stories which were practical in nature. In the end he pointed our strength limitations by telling a story of a sage and a thief, which I enjoyed and never forget in my life.

He is a perfect teacher, expected to be.

Happiness is the real sense of fulfillment that comes from hard work.

An Exploratory Study on the Use of Wikis in Libraries

The term Web 2.0 has been adopted by a growing group of libraries, librarians and information professionals to recalibrate the processes and the paradigms of the library and information services. This new model of library is all about amalgamation of – Ajax, Apollo, Web Standards, User Centric Design, RSS, Blogs, Wikis, Mashups, Tagging, and Folksonomies and so on into library and information services. Web 2.0 is not just a technology or a thing but a new paradigm and state of mind. The heart of Web 2.0 is user-centered change. It is a model that encourages constant and purposeful change, inviting user participation.

Libraries have just begun to utilize new interactive technologies, though in a fairly limited sense. Library users, however, are already adopting and making use of technologies that libraries should also be examining and adopting. For example, Wikis are becoming increasingly popular tools in a variety of arenas.

The term ‘wiki’ is commonly used to describe a set of interconnected web pages that can be edited by multiple users on the Internet. As described by Louridas however, the term also refers to the software that enables this open editing and the philosophy surrounding how users edit information.

The objectives of the study are:

1. To understand the purpose of wikis on library web sites.

2. To note the extent of use of wikis on library web sites throughout the world.

3. To know the benefits of wiki software in the library environment.

4. To know how wikis can be integrated in the library environment.

5. To analyze the development of a wiki in the context of data currency, and frequently changing information so that they could be particularly beneficial for subject guides, reading lists and discussion groups, conferences, information on news and or other events

In my analysis part, I tabulated the data collected into following tables based on the significance of those data.

1. Libraries and their links

2. Catagories of Libraries

3. Libraries and their Location

4. Contry wise distribution of Libraries

5. Distribution of libraries according to wiki forms

6. Number of postings in PBWiki

7. Purpose of Library wiki websites

8. Editing Frequency of PBWiki

Findings

Some interesting facts were found based on the study.

Use of wikis in developed countries is more compared to developing countries and situation is worse in regions Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Some barriers I found during my study in the use of wikis in libraries is the unfamiliarity of library professional and they are afraid of extra work which is big obstruction in the application of technology in libraries.

Conclusion

Contribution of this dissertation will particularly be important for the wiki research community. This study will provide empirical evidence on the use of libraries and information centers, which has been noted as one of the most common work activities supported by the use of wikis. In addition, the study may also provide empirical evidence for all positive claims about wiki technology such as its simplicity, ease of use, and support for information sharing.

Project Meetings at the end

After project meeting 9, I held 5 meetings with NSH but couldn't post it due to hectic schedule of dissertation work. Apart from personal meeting, I also had many telephonic conversations and had constantly been in touch with NSH about my Wiki through

E-mails.

In project meeting 9 NSH did insist me to study on MediaWiki, which I did. After that I studied remaining 5 types of wikis. After completing these studies I started analysing the data.

FIREWORKS OF PROJECT.........2

As for as the project is considered new doubts and new information is generated day by day. Each information is put on blog. This is a continuation from previous blogs topic "Breaking legs behind my MLISc Project". Along with, this my friends doubts about project are also put on blog. 

What are Wikis and Blogs

Definition of a Wiki

“Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser.  Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and cross links between internal pages on the fly.”  

Definition of a Blog 

"A blog is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order."

There are some common features between both Wikis and Blogs    

1. Wiki and Blog, both are web pages. 
   
2. Both Wikis and Blogs grow with the help of the users.        
   
3. Users can post their comments on both of them.  
   

Advantages of Wikis over Blogs ·         

1. Easy access of archived information. ·   
2.  These are better at assembling information collectively with regarding to particular profession. 

Advantages of Blogs over Wikis 

1. Sharing information as quick as possible 
2. Communication between host and guest.    

There are some false assumptions regarding Wikis:          

1.  Wiki is a encyclopedia, but it is not true. Its coverage ranges from A-Z and from 0-9   
2. Wiki contents can be edited by any one, but it is not right. The content can be edited, added, changed only by selected people with password protection. 
3. The original content of the changed one is lost, but it is only for those who do not visit past version of the page where it is saved. 

Similarly there are some false assumptions regarding Blogs:

1. A blog is an online diary. Which was so in the beginning but, now it consists everything, from food to sports, hobbies, professional, and so on.   
2. Blog is hosted by one person which is not true. Now a days any professional organization, companies, industries, can host the blogs according to their taste.   
3. A message board is replaced by blog in a working place where as binder-manual is replaced by wiki.   

Why Blog : 

1. Easy to post 
   
2. Posts can be read Chronologically 
   
3. Automatic alerting service 
   
4. Provisions for comments on each post 
   
5. Only host can edit the content of a post 
   
6. Discussions can be limited to specific groups.   

Why Wiki:

1.  Document creation 
   
2. Anyone can contribute 
   
3. Participation is truly liberal. 
   
4. Content can be in any order.      

 Main differences between Blogs and Wikis   

1.  Blog is a one man show comprising discussion at the end, where as wiki is a talk show where everyone can participate.   
   
2. Blog is like a boardroom table with a podium at the head of the table. Wiki – is like a round conference table.
   
3.  Blog - is like a white paper where as Wiki  -  is like a spray painting where any one can try.   
4. Blog is a content of thoughts where one or more can comment on those contents where as wiki is a repository of thoughts where others can contribute and modify. 
5. Blog is author centered where as wiki content centered.
6.  In blog Comments are encouraged but not focused. Where as in wiki no real comments.
7.  In blogs sharing of events and insights where as wikis create resources   
8. In blogs content displayed with recent articles first, where as in wikis it is not necessary. 
9.  Blog is conversation in nature where as wikis is either active or passive.   
10. Blog is static where as wikis is dynamic  
11.  In blog host in whole and sole, where as wiki  is public.  
12.  In blogs comments are encouraged where as in wikis comments are not expected. 
    

Project Meeting 9

Progress report:-

Work Done:-
I did the work given by NSH on improving the table. I did create pbwiki site and sent link to NSH. Click here to visit my pbwiki site

About discussion:-
NSH saw that site. He tried to comment in the site but the site didn't allow him. He told me to permit him to enter into that site. I gave him permission to enter that site by giving his e-mail id, in Share this wiki bar

Share this wiki

Add a new writer to the wiki.

User settings.

He entered that site and commented upon it. than he also created pbwiki.

Work given:-
NSH told me to add some content to that site. He also asked me to differentiate between blog and wiki, which I was also aware of but confused whether to post it or not. He did tell to put the answer in my blog as well as wiki.

He also insisted me to study on MediaWiki.

Project Meeting 8

Progress report:-

Work Done:-
In last meeting NSH gave me two tasks, one is to find the library sites which are using wiki software, so I found out 35 wiki using Library sites. These sites contains 5 different types of wikis. They are Media wiki , pbwiki, Seedwiki, Wetpaint, Wikispaces.

Second one is to prepare table contains Name of the library, Type of Library and links.
I had prepared table and sent it to NSH.

About Discussion:-
NSH saw that table of wikis and suggested me to take only library sites which are using pbwikis.

Work given:-
NSH told me to improve the table by addition of some materials such as Type of wiki, purpose of wiki, password required or not, Number of Revisions.

He also told me to create a wikisite.

Project Meeting 7

Progress report of my project: 

Work Done:

I did mention in project meeting 6 that I found out some of the libraries using wiki online software.But I am not totally clear about it. So I did send links to NSH. NSH saw those links and he responded positively.

About Discussion:

NSH showed me some of the symptoms of libraries which are using wikis.

Work Given:

NSH told me to collect the library sites which are using wiki software and to prepare table that contains Name of the Library, Type of Library and Links.

Breaking Legs Behind My MLISc Project

I am doing project on Wikis used in Libraries.

Wiki is one of the tools used in Web 2.0.

Web 2.0 mainly focused on the ability of people to collaborate and share information Online.

Web 2.0 features are:

1. Communication with an emphasis on web based communities of users.

2. Communication of users, and open sharing of Information.

Web 2.0 Technologies are:

I. Blogs
Short for Web log, A blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal diary that is posted on the Internet. Blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

II. Social Network:-

The interaction between a group of people who share a common interest.

III. RSS:-

It stands for Rich Site Summary or RDF Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication. RSS is an XML-based summary of a web site, usually used for syndication and other kinds of content-sharing. There are RSS “feeds” which are sources of RSS information about web sites, and RSS “readers” which read RSS feeds and display their content to users.

IV. Folksonomy:-

The spontaneous cooperation of a group of people to organize information into categories also known as collaborative tagging, social classification, social indexing, and social tagging.

V. Wiki

To begin, I am not clear about my topic. I have so many questions on wikis. Below I have mentioned some of my questions and found answers, while searching literature which are as follows:

1. What is wiki?

Wiki is a Hawaiian term for "quick" or "super-fast". The idea of a wiki was first coined by Ward Cunnigham in 1995.

According to Wikipedia "a wiki is type of web site that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove and otherwise edit and change some available content, some times without the need for registration. The ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring".

2.What are the Characteristics of Wikis?

Some of the characteristics are:-

a. Collaborative Writing:-

The term collaborative writing refers to projects where written works are created by multiple people together rather than individually.

b. Open editing:-

Any one with a browser can read a wiki site. Any one with a web browses can edit, undo any changes at any time.

c. Easy Linking

Its primary function is to allow for easy linking between wikis.

d. Always a work in progress

e. Tools are simple, quick and inexpensive.

3. What is the use of Wikis in Libraries?

Libraries use wikis to spread their content online. Wikis present more potential to most libraries.

The most well known wiki is the Online Encyclopedia, That is Wikipedia

4.Popular wiki software's are:

a. Mediawiki : It is a web based wiki software application used by all projects of the wikipedia foundations.

b. pbwiki:- (PeanutButterWiki) PBwiki is a commercial wiki website.

c. Seedwiki:- Seedwiki is a site where everyone is a contributor. The basicwiki service on seedwiki is free, because "free" access to essential to the power of a wiki.

d. Wetpaint:- Wetpaint is a company that provides social network service and wiki hosting service (or wiki farm). Wetpaint was founded in October 2005.

e. Wikispaces:- Wikispaces is a hosted service that lets you create a wiki for collaborative working.

Now I am 90% clear about wikis. I found out answers for some of my questions, but still more questions arising day by day.