Museums
Register
Advertisement

Why using Wikis?

Museums are institutional custodians of objects and information about cultural heritage. Communication in the world of museums can be seen as predominantly linear: from the research about objects or intangible heritage to exhibitions and specific publications as well as from one generation of museum professionals to the following one. These chains of communication are sometimes isolated from each other but there are often points of contact between them. In fact every exhibition with loans from different museums provides chances of new information exchange. The Wiki technology supports the development of information networks, because Wikis facilitate meaningful linking, efficient discussion and organized collection of information. Existing Wikis like Wikipedia and the MuseumsWiki will be examined regarding the needs and resources of museums, museum communities and museum professionals.

Collaborative communities

Wikis are social and collaborative software. Therefore the choice to participate in an existing wiki or the decision to create a wiki dedicated to a specific community should consider the target audience.

Wikipedia MuseumsWiki Custom wiki
general audience museum professionals specific
size, popularity, success wide spectrum flexibility
multilingual international integration
community, technology, methods information node information management

Wikipedia

MuseumsWiki

Custom wiki

See also

Weblinks

Further reading

Advertisement