Week 2 Question

The question for Week 2 is: What is the difference between a blog and a wiki? What sort of things might be better suited for a blog and better suited for a wiki?

For me, the two major differences are the nature of the construction and its interactive nature. Blogs are more linear by nature. Each post sequentially follows the one previous, where a wiki is much more dynamic. Any part of it may be adjusted at any time, and new material doesn't need to be at the end. It is also much more interactive - if you open up the parameters, any person with access to your wiki can change anything. A blog tends to be centered around one individual or institution and their interactions with their readers (though of course readers can interact with each other through the comments as well).

In the library world, blogs are best for announcements, news items or updates. Wikis are better for committee work, procedural manuals or any documentation that needs continual updates. In general, I think of blogs when library staff communicate with the greater community and wikis when they are communicating internally.