#16 (week 7)

Well, wikis.

Been around a while, I've accessed them on many occasions, and even participated in a couple. They are a more comfortable fit for me [order-appreciator, comfortable-with-clear-structure, chaos-averse, control-freak...] and the ease of use and access is nice.

I still marvel though at the amount of time lots of people seem to have to devote to (indeed a more structured etc etc version of but still) their particular concerns [interests, passions, obsessions] and sharing them with the e-world.

Structured environments like libraries would, it seems to me, find more value in what wikis offer than the chat-fest, blog or bebo type of thing. Partly because it (IMHO) suits the intent of conveying quality information that is easy to read and access and navigate around it, with some editorial control to protect all users from Bad People's input, but also because (all? most?) libraries are associated with organisations which are concerned (obsessed?) with image, marketing, branding etc... Better fit with the structure of wikis than the more free-form gas-fests, or other media-format interaction options.

I particularly liked the book club / genealogists / community noticeboard sorts of wikis on the public library sites, and the research starting points on a university site I saw. Wider community involvement in libraries, but also increasing the awareness of public ownership of public libraries (and students working collectively and collaboratively to achieve positive educational outcomes...) that is so often lacking in the general populace in most towns and cities.

I still can't get to grips with the 'everyone has the internet' philosophy pretty much inherent in the articles and commentary etc I read relating to these tech etc things... Moves such as 'free' (ie no direct user charges) internet in public libraries do something towards addressing the real fact that huge numbers of people *don't* actually have readily available home or work internet access. But then there is the issue of the power and speed of connection required to achieve a satisfying experience, especially when one is new to such things, when first exploring the internet or trying out participation in blogs, wikis or whatever - or rather the widespread lack thereof, even among the computer enabled and comfortable.

Roll on the end of the Telecom stranglehold, maybe...