This assignment was worth it just to find this site: This Into That. You have to check it out. I went to the Library Success Best Practices Wiki and under their weeding section found the site as an alternative manner of discarding books. This Into That is the gallery for an artist who makes all kinds of fascinating object with old books. Very clever!
Beyond that, I found this module to be amusing. Prior to starting library school, the only wiki I had ever heard of was Wikipedia and pretty much regarded it with disdain. I assumed information specialists would feel similarly, so I was surprised when in my first semester of grad school the Director of SLIS at UWM talked about the valuable resource that is Wikipedia! Since then I have come to see Wikipedia (and wikis in general) to be a viable starting point for all sorts of queries.
I said I found this module amusing because I think that there are still a lot of professionals in the field who grossly misunderstand wikis and their benefits. Evidence can be found in the PLCMC's own Core Competencies blog comments. One commenter wrote, "Great concept but so open to malicious mis-use. How will we ever achieve a balance of truth and free use for all? Should we view wiki as just a gimmick? Like getting information from a comic book! " They totally missed the point. Wikis do have some weaknesses, but since the possible flaws are known entities, I think in some ways wikis become more reliable than sources with an authoratative gloss, but hidden agenda. A simple Google search of the terms "wikipedia accuracy vs britannica" reveals that numerous tests have been done on Wikipedia's accuracy and it has withstood close scholarly scrutiny.
I also find the debate over controversial topics in wikis to be interesting. A good example is the Wikipedia entries for anything relating to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Of course, heated debate ensues, but I think this gives a broader perspective to the issue. Sources are required so users are given the opportunity to cross reference and determine veracity for themselves. For thinking folks who don't like to just accept the written word at face value, wikis are thought provoking, helpful and as stated before, excellent jumping off points for forays into all kinds of informational adventures.
On that travel related note, in homage to the origin of the term "wiki," and in an attempt at staving off the bitter cold that has blown in -- ENJOY:
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