Getting Wiki With It: Using a Wiki as a Web site for Regional Health System Libraries

Abstract

Patrons are comfortable accessing library information and resources online; however, hospital libraries often have difficulties creating and maintaining internal and external library Web sites that are easily accessible by library patrons. Librarians examined the use of a wiki to serve as an appropriate and effective means for providing the library patrons, employees of a large regional health system, access to library resources both on and off campus. This article will briefly discuss the methods the librarians used to choose a wiki client and create the site. Also included will be training tips used and handouts given to the other hospital system librarians to help familiarize themselves with the wiki site and empower them to assume responsibility for the maintenance of their library's page within the wiki. Finally, the article will discuss the overall utilization of the wiki site as well as the barriers encountered and possible reasons why the wiki was not as successful as hoped.

KEYWORDS:

• hospital libraries
• Web 2.0
• Web site development
• wiki