Adoption of Library 2.0 Functionalities by Academic Libraries and Users: A Knowledge Management Perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on and describe the use of MediaWiki and Google Docs at undergraduate level as online collaboration tools for co‐constructing knowledge in group project work.Design/methodology/approach – Participants included 22 undergraduate students from the Information Management Programme at the University of Hong Kong. All the students had used MediaWiki for the major project in their knowledge management course and Google Docs for their final year project. Questionnaires and semi‐structured telephone interviews were administered after completion of the course/final year project. All interview conversations were audio‐recorded and transcribed for analysis. Each transcript was e‐mailed to the interviewee for accuracy review. The qualitative data supplemented, enriched and clarified the quantitative responses from the online surveys.Findings – The results indicated that some of the students had positive experiences using the tools for online collaboration in the group p...

Using online collaborative tools for groups to co‐construct knowledge

Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overall picture of the application of Web 2.0 technologies in Australasian university libraries. The focus of the research was what types of Web 2.0 technologies were applied in such libraries as well as their purposes and features. Design/methodology/approach: Content analysis was used in terms of quantitative approach. A checklist as the main research instrument was developed based on other checklists and questionnaires, and synthesized ideas from literature. Data were collected by accessing all Australasian university library web sites within two weeks. Then, Microsoft Excel was utilized as a main tool to synthesize and analyze data, and present results. Findings: At least two‐thirds of Australasian university libraries deployed one or more Web 2.0 technologies. Only four Web 2.0 technologies were used for specific purposes and with some basic features. The general Web 2.0 application indexes were still low as the mean application index was 12 points and the highest index was 37 points (out of 100). Research limitations/implications: A combination of content analysis with survey and/or interview may enable future researchers to analyze other aspects (e.g. the application of internal wikis or the use of instant messaging for reference services) of Web 2.0 that a single method of content analysis could not gain. Originality/value: This unique study explores the application of Web 2.0 in a wide scope including any Australasian university libraries that deployed any types of Web 2.0 technologies. This study is useful for Australasian university libraries in evaluating/deploying Web 2.0. Library managers, librarians and other university libraries may also find this helpful once they want to implement such technologies in their libraries.

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A survey of the application of Web 2.0 in Australasian university libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the benefits and challenges of using a wiki as an intranet/content management system in a company.Design/methodology/approach – Combined with elements of action research, a longitudinal case study of implementing a wiki in a department of a Slovenian company was conducted. Interviews, surveys and a log analysis were used for the data collection. The Delone and McLean information systems success model was the underlying theoretical approach to explore the information, systems and service quality.Findings – While a wiki may bring important benefits and change to a company's information/knowledge management, the main challenges remain the same as with earlier technological solutions. Additional problems arise due to cultural issues, the lack of control over quality and the fact that service quality largely depends on the users.Research limitations/implications – A single case study within one company was conducted.Practical implications – The findings are imp...

A wiki as intranet: a critical analysis using the Delone and McLean model

Using Wikis in Academic Libraries.

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine a new collaborative electronic platform available to libraries of all types.Design/methodology/approach – Introduces potential application of wikis discussed by academics and librarians, along with personal viewpoint.Findings – A wiki is a very good example of the best of democracy in which self‐organizing behavior enforces community norms. Typically, wikis are open to everyone and erroneous information could easily be entered, but they are monitored by dedicated members and information is corrected quickly. While viewed as a platform with many advantages for timely and efficient collaborative efforts, there is still a sense of lack of accountability and cumbersome technological hurdles.Originality/value – Wikis offer the opportunity for wide project collaboration and the possibility of a better product in the end.

Sarah Ann Long

Papers

Exploring the wiki world: the new face of collaboration