Week 4 - iGoogle and Wikis

I have always had trouble with the concept of Wikis. They have never appealed to me and I feel that they leave too much room for error. I took on this task with an open mind all the same; I looked at the iGoogle and Wiki tutorials. I really enjoy the tutorials that are done by "Common Craft" , they are a little bit of fun. Unfortunately some of the other tutorials weren't so clear on the screen so weren't as easy to follow.

I already have an iGoogle page but to be honest have rarely used it and am not so sure I have ever changed it. I can see how it could be a valuable tool because you can access it anywhere. This task prompted me to play around a little, I enjoyed changing my theme and I chose the one below.

One aspect of iGoogle I have always found useful is the calculator. As strange as it may sound I always like to have a calculator handy.....so I know I can always go there if I need to.

I have to say even with further exploration I am not yet converted to Wikis. I still can not come to a place where I see it as an overly useful tool. I am aware that it works for some but not me. I did find the tutorials interesting but was dissapointed that a lot of them haven't been updated in quite some time. I guess I like to feel that things are current.

As far as libraries using it as an application, I can see it used for staff but can see all sorts of negative that would come of it to open it up to clients; although that would be depending on what type of library it is. A small personal library may be able to use a Wiki succesfully. Public Libraries could use it as a medium for letting people know what is happening in their library, using it as a shared medium between each public library.

If the Polytechnic library used a Wiki I am not sure I would take the time to use it myself, maybe just check in every now and then and see what is on it. I would like to see new resources and maybe an area for the patrons to suggest new recourses for purchase. I can see that as a viable use for it.