I have been playing around and browsing on the HLS Wiki and I like it. I also think it is one of those hidden gems that we hospital librarians need to do more to utilize and support. I can't tell you how many emails that get posted on the MEDLIB-L asking for help, ideas, best practices or resources on statistics, benchmarking, collection development, etc.

This wiki could be a really great resource for those kind of questions, but it needs your help. The wiki depends upon you to provide the information. The more quality information, the more of a help it can be to other hospital librarians.

I know, you are busy and don't have a lot of time at free time or work time to play around with a wiki. I hear ya. However, you don't have to sit there and edit every page or contribute mass amounts of information. Nobody has time for that. But it hardly takes any time to add a brief paragraph and link to something you did that worked. For example, I created an account and logged in and made some minor additions to beef up the front page of the Web 2.0 section. It took me a total of 5-10 minutes.

So here is my proposal. Don't stop the MEDLIB-L questions, I think we can all agree they are helpful and great. But perhaps in addition to sharing on MEDLIB you could also add the resource or example to the HLS wiki. Not only will you be sharing the information with that one person, but you will be providing information to others later on.

Just a thought.

Labels: Hospital Libraries, Wiki

Library Stuff directed me to an article in School Library Journal, "Which Wiki is Right for You?" by Shonda Brisco. There are tons of wiki builders out there and a question I get asked a lot is what type of wiki somebody should use. I am sorry to say but my answer has never been that great because a lot of it depends upon the person and what they want to do. I usually refer them to the Wiki Matrix, which compares wikis to each other. However, the Wiki Matrix profiles so many that it too can just add to the confusion a little.

So if you are interested in starting a wiki or just curious you should check out the article in School Library Journal. It profiles three popular wikis, PBWiki, WikiSpaces, and WetPaint. Cost, how it works, pros and cons are all discussed, allowing you to get a better idea of what each wiki does and make a more informed decision.

Labels: Wiki

If you have been following the AskDrWiki threads around the blogosphere (David Rothman, Doctor Wiki, AMA News, etc.) you will know that the creators of AskDrWiki have instituted a detailed editorial policy to help ensure that accurate and quality medical information is posted.

Unlike many wiki and blog pages, editors on AskDrWiki are not anonymous and are identified with their name and degree. Now the Who is Dr Wiki Page not only lists the editors but it will also link to their resume or curriculum vitae. Examples: Kenny Civello MPH, MD and Brian Jefferson MD.

AskDrWiki is still a little subject heavy in Cardiology, however they are looking for editors in every specialty. For example the Biomedical Informatics section is currently empty, so if there are any librarians, physicians, medical information systems people who specialize in Biomedical Informatics, you might want to drop them an email and help contribute.

Labels: Social Software, Technology, Wiki

This article, "A Wikipedia-style site for medical information?" appeared in yesterday's (March 29, 2007) Cleveland Plain Dealer. I have been busy with a couple of projects so I am just now getting to blog about it.

David Rothman, was interviewed as a librarian opposed to AskDrWiki and that actually shocked me a little. Even though David has criticized the wiki on his blog in the past, he has also discussed the positives of AskDrWiki as well as other wikis. It wasn't until I read David's blog this morning did I get the full picture. In his post, Cleveland Plain Dealer on Medical Wikis he revealed his frustration of being quoted out of context and his decision to publish his interview with the reporter.

I am very familiar with AskDrWiki and I have been watching it with great interest as one the better examples as to how wikis could work in the medical field. It offers a lot of promise as a learning site that can be used in conjunction with other medical information resources. While I share David's concerns about authority control and errors with medical wikis I am not as jittery as many would think.

Perhaps it is just in my mind but I kind of think of wikis, specifically specialty wikis like AskDrWiki, as a virtual discussion room for individuals. As librarians we look at various resources that our patrons use for information. However one resource we often forget about because we often don't see it, is doctor to doctor personal communication. Doctors (as well as other professionals) often consult each other formally or informally. At the basic level what is the difference between the sharing of information face to face vs. online through a wiki? Both methods are a means of exchanging information. Aah.. but there is a chance that the information posted on AskDrWiki is wrong. Yes. But isn't there also a chance the individual you are consulting in person is wrong? People are infallible, including doctors.

Now that AskDrWiki has instituted a credential review policy, it ensures that at least medical professionals are posting and sharing information which does help with some quality control. However, it does not totally eliminate the chance of errors and I don't know of anything that eliminates that chance completely. Textbooks have been recalled for errors, journal articles have been amended or retracted, and treatments medical society once thought to be the gold standard have been replaced. I tend to think of wikis like other information resources (articles, textbooks, personal discussions, etc.) where the onus is still on the user to verify the information. We do it all the time with print resources or through subtleties in conversation.

The medium is not what should be questioned, it is the information within. Learning is all about asking questions. Wikis offer that opportunity to learn.

Labels: Social Software, Technology, Wiki

The hospital librarians' wiki, sponsored by the Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association, is up running and available for people to use. The purpose of the wiki is to provide an area where librarians can share best practices and ideas. It is easily accessed, archived, searched, and modified.

Currently, the wiki has information on Collection Development, Electronic Health Records, Point of Care resources, and Magnet Hospitals. You can add your comments by clicking on "Edit This Page" or start an entirely new topic by “Adding a New Page”.

Help documentation and tutorial videos are available if you should need any assistance with the wiki. Please feel free to add your content. It is a great opportunity to learn how to use wikis as well as sharing information with other hospital librarians.

Labels: Wiki