Admins, if this topic isn't appropriate for this group (because it's MLA-specific), let me know.

Someone had a good idea for an MLA blog in another thread, and since I'm a Publication Committee member, I'd welcome some brainstorming.

So, questions:
-If the MLA had a wiki, what would you like to see on it?
-Would you use it?
-Would you contribute to it (this includes editing as well as writing content)?
-Do you have suggestions for hosting (e.g. Wikispaces, PBWiki)?
-Should it be run by a committee or by personal MLA members?

Thanks!

Last year I thought we could use a Wiki for our guidelines and policies. It could also be used for just about the same thing the website is used for, info about the conference and so on. It could also be used as an excellent collaboration tool for divisions and committees to use when working on projects.

The Wiki could also be used as an up to date interactive FAQ for membership. It could also be used as a tool for membership to post information and or links that would be useful for people to use when needing similar help.

This is just off the top of my head. I will think some more about it and try to get back to this thread with more thoughts.

John

I'd be interested to see some of the notable things other libraries are doing around the state.
I would definitely use it
I would be willing to contribute
I've heard some complaints about the updates that PBwiki did lately but I've used both PBwiki and WetPaint in the past
I think you might get more involvement if it were run by members.

I agree, it should be open to all membership, just like the membership directory.

As chair of the Publications Committee, after the next Board Meeting, we will be creating a comprehensive "Library 2.0" policy. This policy will not only include Wikis, but also blogs, Flickr, Second Life, etc. After we have a policy and proceedures in place, then it will be easier for MLA to start using these tools.

An idea that came up at an earlier conference planning meeting was to use a wiki for restaurants in conference cities. I don't know if there will be one for St. Louis this year, but I think it is a great way for everyone to contribue. If not this year, then hopefully we can get a restaurant reviews wiki in place for Columbia.

I imagine this could be part of a wiki for conferences in general-- not only could it include restaurants, but also hotels or places to pick up supplies (e.g., drugstores). Attendees could also use the conference wiki for feedback once the conference was over.

Now, I have a new question: how would we market this? An obvious answer is with a link to the wiki on MLA's website, and posting in Facebook, but does anyone have other ideas?

I would think it would also be talked about in MO INFO, and the listserv's as well as a program at the conference.

I am not a member of MLA, but I'll give my opinion. The MLA wiki should be specific to MLA activities and Missouri libraries.

Having broad information that is reproduced any many of the other wikis would not be useful.

it seems like everyone's ideas are pertaining specifically to missouri libraries and MLA... Good thinking

Thanks to everyone for your input. Already I've received some great ideas and really interesting suggestions, both here and in my Inbox.

Like Jodie says, the wiki isn't going to be experimented with until MLA figures out a "Web 2.0" policy, but the feedback I've gotten so far is encouraging.

Again, thanks.

MLA's Publications Committee is the group the MLA Executive Board will look to for oversight/policy/messages related to MLA communications. The Publications Committee has just updated MLA's Listserv Policy, has begun a blog policy, and will most likely tackle wiki-based communications/ publications next.

Margaret Booker, Executive Director
Missouri Library Association

Thank you for all the work you're putting into this! I can't wait to see what MLA does in the way of 2.0, I'm really looking forward to it!