Assignment 1 - Finding a Wiki for my Library

Library Characteristics

My local library is the Hall County Library System. Hall County has a population of 185,416 (2012) with a substantial size of 392.78 square miles (2012) as well as large areas of unincorporated land despite the urban designation of the county (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014). The library system has recently been hit with severe budget cuts that has led to reduction in operating hours, employee furloughs, and a limited amount of new collection purchases based on branch need. It also had to close two branches (reducing to four branches), while it opened an new technology center (Hall County Library System, 2013).

Based on the new approach to services due to reduced budgets, I believe the library could use a wiki that would assist with homework questions that are most likely asked frequently. This could be created specifically for a high school assignment or literature discussed in local schools.

Library Requirements

The library system would need a wiki that:

• is free to create and maintain
• would reach a diverse audience, such as Spanish speaking patrons
• has unlimited storage
• has restrictions so as to eliminate profanity, etc.
• includes a summary of changes and/or history
• was easy to use for the staff maintaining site
• has strong security to avoid vandalism
• provides statistics for use in their annual report
• is also mobile and printer friendly

 

Choice of Wiki for Library

According to wikimatrix, Wikia.com has a robust system that includes an easy to use interface and has all of the above requirements the library needs. When compared to other wikis, Wikia.com outshines the competition with its dearth of features. Currently, Wikia.com has a literature wiki (literature.wikia.com) that includes bestsellers as well as classics that students would be reading in middle school and high school. It includes tracking content such as most visited topics and IP addresses. There are sections devoted to anti-vandalism and recent changes. Links on the home page include a link to the Wikia Book Club and the Children's Books Wiki. At the bottom of the home page is information for international users. It includes articles in French, German and Spanish, to name a few.

I think using this specific wiki for literature or creating a specific Hall County Library homework wiki using Wikia.com would greatly benefit the Hall County Library System.

References

Hall County Library System. (2013). Annual Statistical Report 2013. Retrieved from http://www.hallcountylibrary.org/index.php/about-us/annual-report 

 

United States Census Bureau. (2014). State and County Quick Facts [Data file]. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov