Norwich University Wiki Analysis

Norwich University (NU) has created a wiki that has created a hybrid version of my own wiki. MediaWiki powers this wiki. The NU wiki is part of the Library Staff page. The purpose of this wiki is to provide information, announcements, resources, etc. for the staff to better aid the public with reference services. "Most importantly, exploiting knowledge can be a major “advantage for libraries, which can translate into better service to users” (Jantz, 2001).” This wiki follows a similar format to my own. There is a main box of the comments and clicking on that link brings one to the answers relating to that topic. The Reference Resources section is a very thorough page, describing the capabilities of each of the different search engines.

Treating the wiki like a book, or help section similar to the one computers pop up in similar windows, creates a familiar format which is more inviting and easier for a wide audience to access. Often times if a system is new or complicated it will not reach someone as easily as one that is more ‘plain Jane’. I have opted for simplicity and mass use, rather than fancy and elite.

My own wiki, Northern Owl, has more step-by-step instructions than the NU wiki does. The format of both wikis is easy to follow. The categories start out wide and narrow a topic down, so one is not lost in the hub of information. "Due to its fluid and open structure, a wiki can quickly become disorganized. To address this potential problem, users of a new wiki usually develop or adopt norms and conventions for naming pages and adding content to help the wiki stay consistent (Fichter, 2005b)." (Kille)

Wikis offer a great way for libraries to create a free, readily accessible knowledge management system. The NU wiki is part of a larger whole and it does not appear to foster the same amount of student input as the other wiki I reviewed. NU still has more work and expansion to do; some of the pages created do not have any content yet.

While searching for wiki articles about libraries and wikis I found this very in-depth site, which quotes many other resources about this topic. One of the sections mentions why wikis or ‘Knowledge Management Tools’ are a good fit for reference librarians. The items on this list match almost exactly, what I had in mind when beginning my project.

(a) systematically collect and organize explicit and tacit knowledge,
(b) increase efficiency in locating answers to frequently answered questions,
(c) improve decisions regarding sources to consult,
(d) improve knowledge sharing,
(e) acquire more in-depth knowledge of the library and its resources,
(f) better understand the types of questions asked at the reference desk,
(g) improve collection development, and
(h) improve patron access to information (Gandhi, 2004).
Overall, successful knowledge management in library reference services can help “establish internal benchmarks, identify and record best practices, and create an environment of continuous learning” (Gandhi, 2004, p. 378).

I recommend anyone and everyone taking a look at this site. It has a wealth of knowledge on the academic purposes wikis can serve. The author, Angela Kille, also includes a list of references and links.