Skype. Skype Communications, 22/24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg; http:/ /www.skype .com.PBwiki. PBwiki, 1825 South Grant

Abstract

Imagine no longer worrying about email attachments that get stripped by network size requirements, the benefits of having an online space that can be easily customized by the group of people who use it, and an automatic archive that can track changes to projects and procedure manuals to see how things have changed over time. Examples of library wikis: * A library wiki was developed for patrons of the University at Buffalo, State University of New York Health Sciences, Library [6]. * The Hospital Libraries Section of MLA formed a librarian collaborative wiki [7]. * Another librarian collaboration wiki is the University of British Columbia HealthLib-Wiki, a knowledgebase for health librarians [8]. * Another librarian collaboration wiki is EBM Librarian [9] * A library professional development wiki is Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki [10] * More library wikis can be found on the Library Wikis site [11].

Skype. Skype Communications, 22/24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg; http://www.skype .com.

PBwiki. PBwiki, 1825 South Grant Street, Suite 850, San Mateo, CA 94402-7041; 866.WIKI.4ME (9454463); [email protected]; http://www .pbwiki.com. Freely available collaboration/communication tools for the solo librarian.

Skype

Solo librarians face many challenges, including isolation from their peers. This isolation can even extend to the inability to have spontaneous conversations with colleagues onsite! Skype, an online voice over Internet protocol (IP) tool that can be downloaded to a computer, can help overcome this isolation. Skype functions as a chat tool, telephone, and videoconferencing tool all at once - a librarian's twenty-first century "Batphone." Picture Bruce Wayne calling Commissioner Gordon by simply picking up the receiver of his red phone, and you have a sense of what Skype can mean to a solo librarian.

Features

* Chat Just as with all chat tools, such as AOL and Yahoo, users have the ability to type messages to friends, and the messages are received immediately. Users can use their status to indicate that they are online, away, or not available; in addition, users can be "invisible", so while they are online, no one can see them. "Group chats" with large numbers of people are also possible but are only available with other Skype users.

* Log in from anywhere: Users can download the Skype software onto any computer with Internet access and log into Skype using their user name and password. Each computer must have the Skype software downloaded onto it, but users can access their individual account with a user name and password, once the software is loaded.

* Voice over IP: With a headset and microphone, telephone calls can be made to up to five Skype users at one time at no cost, though the quality of the call diminishes with each additional caller. Librarians who have a question to talk over with a colleague can look at their list of online contacts and make a quick Skype call to work out the solution to the question.

* Webcam: While not required, an added feature of Skype is the ability to connect a webcam to the software and have vidéoconférence calls with colleagues. While not a necessity, adding video to a call really does add an extra dimension of collegiality.

* Connect with friends not on Skype using SkypeOut: Users can set up accounts that allow them to use Skype to dial a land line. Calls within the continental United States are $0.02 a minute at this time, and international calls can be as little as $0.03 a minute, depending on where you are calling. These rates are significantly lower than most regular telecommunications companies charge. To do this, you purchase "Skype Credit"; you can pay for mis credit with PayPal or a credit card.

* Secure file transfer: Users can send files to their Skype contacts while on an instant messaging (IM) chat.

Limitations

Skype calls require a high-speed Internet connection for the conversation to replicate an analog telephone call. If the connection is too slow, there will be delays that interfere with a smooth conversation. Even high-speed connections can have problems with calls that require users to hang up and reconnect.

Skype is a peer-to-peer network, which uses the combined bandwidth of all logged-in users. This means all computers on the network function as a server and a client, and, while safety measures are in place to protect individual machines, some institutions will not allow Skype to be installed because of this feature.

Similar products

Gizmo <http://www.gizmoproject .com> has many of the same features as Skype and includes the option of recording the Gizmo call. The downside of Gizmo is that more people have Skype downloaded on their computer than have Gizmo. In July of 2006, the comparison was fewer than a million Gizmo subscribers compared to over 100 million Skype users [1].

General review of Skype

Overall, one of the reviewers relies on Skype for her daily work, bom as a chat tool and a videoconferencing tool. She contacts colleagues across the United States and has even been able to stay in touch with a former colleague who now lives in Nepal. There are days when she talks to more people outside her library than in it. It is a valuable addition to a librarian's toolkit.

PBwiki

What is a wiki?

A wiki is collaborative software that "allows users to create, edit, and link web pages easily" [2]. Software that allows easy collaboration - that should get the attention of any busy librarian. Imagine no longer worrying about email attachments that get stripped by network size requirements, the benefits of having an online space that can be easily customized by the group of people who use it, and an automatic archive that can track changes to projects and procedure manuals to see how things have changed over time.

Why use a wiki?

Most librarians (solo and otherwise) are members of teams who work together to get things done. The days are filled with serving patrons' current and future needs; participating in planning and committee work (organizational committees, library association committees, planning events, etc.); and keeping an eye on future developments in both home organizations and in the profession. How does a person keep up with everything? The reviewers have found that wikis have helped to organize some of the work and have led to better collaboration between project teams. Michael Sauers compares the use of a blog versus a wiki: "Wikis are traditionally used where you have a lot of people that are working to come up with an end result. Blogs are conversation, wikis are collaboration. Wikis are collaborative; you have a group of people constantly working to come up with an end result. If you are only making announcements to a group, blogs are better" [3].

Many wiki software platforms are available. Before you start looking for wiki software, check your home organization to see if one has already been purchased. If none exists, a comparison of wiki farms (the term used for the groups of servers that host wikis) is available on Wikipedia [4]. This list includes free and feebased software resources. One of the caveats with free wiki software is that they often have space limitations, potentially limiting your file storage capabilities. You can compare wikis and find the one that will serve your needs through WikiMatrix [5].

Once you have created a wiki to help with your project, be sure to share your success with those in higher positions and others in your organization who work in teams. They may consider purchasing software for the entire organization to use, as apposed to using a free, thirdparty site. Purchasing software is charged based on number of users and a per month fee and usually offers larger file storage options than the free versions. Depending on your organization's usage requirements, the free versions might fit the needs of all teams, will probably be limited in their storage space, and might offer ads that will show up inside the wiki.

Examples of library wikis:

* A library wiki was developed for patrons of the University at Buffalo, State University of New York Health Sciences, Library [6].

* The Hospital Libraries Section of MLA formed a librarian collaborative wiki [7].

* Another librarian collaboration wiki is the University of British Columbia HealthLib-Wiki, a knowledgebase for health librarians [8].

* Another librarian collaboration wiki is EBM Librarian [9]

* A library professional development wiki is Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki [10]

* More library wikis can be found on the Library Wikis site [11].

Evaluating PBwiki

According to the PBwiki site, they host over 400,000 business and educational wikis. The theme of the site includes references to peanut butter (the official blog is called "The Daily Peanut"), because building a wiki is "as easy as making a peanut butter sandwich."

PBwiki is free to use for educational purposes, with premium plans starting at $9.95 per month. You use a point-and-click editor to set up the wiki and to set up the pages of your wiki site the way you want them to be. The site can be password protected, allowing only those you wish to enter and read or submit materials. You and your wiki members can upload documents, images, and resource links to your site, making it valuable to your selected authence. Recent changes are generally listed on the front page of the wiki, and viewing the changes can be limited to registered members of the wiki.

The company has recently launched PBwiki 2.0. The new version of the software offers a new editor and will allow page-specific control, making each page public or private (as opposed to the entire site).

If you are considering creating a wiki for your library or for your project team, you may be able to get support for the new technology from your state library or from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine office that serves your area. Check www.nnlm.gov to get the contact information for the office that serves you. You are not alone when considering new technology: there are librarians whose job it is to help you.

Other Resources

* "What is a wiki (and how to use one for your projects)," O'Reilly Network <http://www.oreillynet .com/pub/a/network/2006/07/07/ what-is-a-wiki.html >

* educator wiki page<http://www .educators.pbwiki.com>

* The Daily Peanut, the PBwiki blog <http: / /blog.pbwiki.com>

* example of using PBwiki for conference presentation <http:// academiclibrary2point0.pbwiki.com>

* other library wikis on PBwiki <http://educators.pbwiki.com/ Libraries/ >

* setting up of an education wiki <http://www.pbwiki.com/education .wiki/>

* collaboration through wikis <http:// www.cnet.com/4520-10192_l-6415671-l *html?tag=featl>

References

References

1. Gizmo project vs. Skype? [Internet]. Voice over IP news [24 Jul 2006; cited 2 Mar 2008]. <http://www.voipnow .org/2006/07/gizmo_project_v.html>.

2. Wiki. In: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [Internet], [rev. 3 Mar 2008; cited 3 Mar 2008]. <http://en.wikipedia .org/w/index.php?title=Wiki&oldid= 195553678>.

3. Sauers M. (technology innovation librarian at the Nebraska Library Commission). Telephone conversation with: Teresa Hartman. 3 Mar 2008.

4. Comparison of wiki farms. In: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [Internet], [rev. 3 Mar 2008; cited 3 Mar 2008]. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Lis t_o f_wiki_f arms > .

5. Wikimatrix [Internet]. CosmoCode [cited 8 Apr 2008]. <http://www .wikimatrix.org>.

6. Health Sciences Library wiki [Internet]. University at Buffalo, State University of New York [rev. 13 Mar 2008; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http://libweb.lib .buffalo.edu/dokuwiki/hslwiki/doku .php?id=>.

7. Hospital Libraries Section, Medical Library Association, mla-hls [Internet]. The Section [rev. 19 Mar 2008; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http://www.mla-hls . wikispaces.com> .

8. UBC healthlib-wiki-a knowledgebase for health librarians [Internet]. University of British Columbia [rev. 19 Mar 2008; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http: / /hlwiki.slais.ubc.ca > .

9. EBM librarian [Internet], [rev. 12 Dec 2007; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http://ebmlibrarian.wetpaint.com/ ?t=anon>.

10. Library success: a best practices wiki [Internet], [rev. 19 Mar 2008; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http://www.libsuccess .org/index.php?title=Library_Success:_ A_Best_Practices_Wiki>.

11. LibraryWikis [Internet], [rev. 14 Mar 2008; cited 20 Mar 2008]. <http: / /librarywikis.pbwiki.com> .

DOI: 10.3163/1536-5050.96.3.023