Summary
The University of Houston Music Library implemented an internal wiki in 2006 to improve its policies and procedures manual as well as to assist in supervising student assistants. This article gives a brief overview of wiki use in libraries through a literature review; describes how the UH Music Library has used wikis as a policies and procedures manual; how it branched into other uses such as student assistant supervision; and evaluates the success of the wiki over the course of the one-year study according to a sample of usage statistics and experiences. A conclusion of this study is that users frequently consulted the wiki despite a decline in contributions after its introduction.
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Extract
Not Just a Policies and Procedures Manual Anymore: The University of Houston Music Library Manual Wiki
The University of Houston (UH) Music Library is a branch of the UH Libraries and is located in the Moores School of Music. Similar to other music libraries located within music schools or departments, it enjoys a close relationship with music faculty and students. Collections and space are heavily used, especially in the area of reserves and public computing. A single service point in the branch library addresses nearly all patron needs from circulation to research help. Daytime staffing consists of two full-time librarians and two full-time-equivalent staff members. Several student assistants staff the Music Library during evenings and weekends. This makes for a fast-paced environment where all employees need to have quick access to information to provide good customer service to patrons. When considering the UH Music Library's policies, procedures, training, and communication methods, getting all staff and student assistants to find or share needed information was often difficult.
The UH Music Library's policies and procedures manual had appeared in two different manifestations in recent years. The first was in printed form, and it became unwieldy to update and keep organized. UH Music Library staff created an online version of the branch's procedures manual, which was based on a simi...See the full content of this document
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