The way I see it, Wikipedia is a useful source of information. However, results should be used with caution. I would use it only as a springboard because...
...an article which today, at this moment is accurate and well-referenced might, in 5 minutes time, have been edited by someone to be inaccurate and unreferenced. As there is little editorial control, there is no way of telling whether the article you are viewing is accurate or not.
It can provide a useful overview and starting point but is not impartial or necessarily accurate. I understand that inaccuracies may be rapidly corrected but what are the implications if I access an article before the information has been corrected?
I don't think it should be banned by academic institutions but, instead, they should use it to assist discussions into the reliability and appraisal of materials.
Tricia Rey
Library Services Manager
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Grinstead
Tel: 01342 414266
Mailto:[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda Mace-Michalik
Sent: 22 March 2011 14:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Wikipedia (again)
I am a mother of two university students, one of whom findings journal article searching a nightmare!
Wikipedia may be looked down on by the academic community, but if you are a novice trying to gain the first clue about a subject you do not need the might of learned in depth learned articles that are pay by view! You need a starting point that gives a simple entry.
Instead of disparaging Wikipedia, we should be adding our own edits to any stub that is poorly referenced/informed so that having gained an insight/overview, the student can then be steered to a sound academic source/search engine/collection.
LindaMM
Linda Mace-Michalik (Mrs)
Electronic Services Officer North East SHA
email: [log in to unmask]
Library and Information Service
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Education Centre
Lanchester Rd Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5RD
Old Porters Lodge 0191 333 6303
LRH Library 0191 441 5910/12
-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Riste
Sent: 22 March 2011 14:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Wikipedia (again)
Hi All
Interesting story on the BBC website about academics potentially embracing Wikipedia as a resource:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12809944
Particularly interesting that it is a medical student leading this push to embrace Wikipedia. I'd be interested to know whether any library services are tackling Wikipedia in their information retrieval / critical appraisal training.
Regards,
James
James Riste
Library Services Manager
Trust Library
Education Centre
Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust
Pield Heath Road
Uxbridge
Middx UB8 3NN
Tel: 01895 279250
(internal - ext. 3250)
Fax: 01895 234150
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.thh.nhs.uk/Departments/Library/library.htm
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