Ohio University Libraries Wikis in Action: A Wiki as a Research Guide Chad F. Boeninger Computers in Libraries March 22, 2006

Ohio University Libraries What is a Wiki? A website in which content can be created and edited by a community of users Best example is Wikipedia Strength of the resource is often dependent on the strength of the community

Ohio University Libraries Traditional Research Guides Research guide = subject guide = pathfinder Popular method of disseminating library information Previously had 3 research guides Business Research Guide International Business Research Guide Marketing Research Guide

Ohio University Libraries Traditional Research Guides Redundancy of resources No interlinking Multiple edits of the same content Not searchable No way to measure use Timely updates are difficult

Ohio University Libraries The Wiki Process Installed MediaWiki on our server Added most useful content from old research guides Wiki organization evolved while adding content

Ohio University Libraries The Biz Wiki Organized by area of research need Browse by category or alphabet Searchable by keyword Users can edit/add content Interlinked articles allow for increased access to information

Ohio University Libraries Reference Content Key reference resources Guides to common questions Definitions of terms Examples: Demographics USA Doing Business in Another Country Company Annual Reports

Ohio University Libraries What About the Catalog? Library catalog entry for Exporter’s Encyclopaedia Biz Wiki article for Exporter’s Encyclopaedia

Ohio University Libraries Instruction Content Wikis make excellent teaching tools Replace class handouts Broader scope than class specific handouts Example: Industry Research BasicsIndustry Research Basics

Ohio University Libraries On the Fly Content

Ohio University Libraries “On the Fly” Content 1.Answered reference question 2.Similar question via IM 3.Used content of previous question to create wiki articlewiki article 4.Answer is out of and on the web 5.Easier future access to information Reference Answer IM Question Wiki Article

Ohio University Libraries Popular Pages Feature Popular Pages See what is being used Useful for collection development See what you need to create more of Automobile Industry Guide

Ohio University Libraries Creating Content Create an article Link to the article from another article Assign a category for the article

Ohio University Libraries Measuring Use

Ohio University Libraries Biz Wiki Usage Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier Lexis-Nexis AcademicLexis-Nexis Academic ERICERIC Business Source Premier (BSP)Business Source Premier (BSP) PsycINFOPsycINFO BIOSIS PreviewsBIOSIS Previews Business and IndustryBusiness and Industry Education AbstractsEducation Abstracts JSTORJSTOR Science Citation Index ExpandedScience Citation Index Expanded FactivaFactiva Medline (1966 to the present)Medline (1966 to the present) General Science Full TextGeneral Science Full Text WorldCatWorldCat Biz WikiBiz Wiki RefWorksRefWorks Hoover's OnlineHoover's Online Communication & Mass Media CompleteCommunication & Mass Media Complete Oxford English DictionaryOxford English Dictionary AnyWho DirectoryAnyWho Directory January 1-March 2, 2006

Ohio University Libraries Feedback on the Wiki “You weren’t around, so I showed them the Biz Wiki Guide to Doing Business in Another Country, and they were satisfied.”--Reference Librarian “I had no idea how to find a swot analysis, so I just searched for ‘swot’ in the Biz Wiki, and low and behold, you had an article on finding a SWOT analysis.” ---Reference Librarian

Ohio University Libraries Wiki Challenges Getting others to contribute More content = more maintenance Maintaining organization and structure with growth of content Difficult to see new content Spam, Spam, and more Spam MySQL stop words (SIC)

Ohio University Libraries Wiki Strengths Extend the reach of the librarian Promote sources Teach research skills Make the job of the librarian easier Easy to add and edit content

Ohio University Libraries More Wiki Strengths Make information and knowledge more accessible Content is more timely Potential for contributing to the academic learning community

Ohio University Libraries Future of Wikis Wiki/Blog/RSS workshops Promote feedback mechanisms of the wiki Gather input from users (librarians, students, faculty) Record usage of library resources

Ohio University Libraries More Wiki Ideas Student Research Wikis First-year experience wiki Campus collaboration Multi-disciplinary subjects (Latin American Studies/Women’s Studies/Film)Women’s Studies

Ohio University Libraries Other Great Wikis SJCPL Subject Guides Butler Reference Wiki

Ohio University Libraries Special Thanks Alden Library Reference Staff Alden Library Systems Staff Numerous Library Bloggers Ohio University Business researchers

Ohio University Libraries Questions??