Wikis

I have often checked Wikipedia when helping the kids with their homework. I know that particulary secondary students are not supposed to use it as a reference source but actually i have found it very valuable. It has crossed my find though as to how accurate the information is. If anyone can add to or alter the content of an article how can we trust that the information is correct? How accountable is it? That is the problem we enounter when anybody at all is able to go to a site and add input and make alterations at their will. I understand that the information is checked to an extent but it still may be risky if one wants total accuracy.
I think in a Library situation it has valuable uses in the area of staff training and policies. It is a flexible avenue for information to be updated and changed, which is a key factor in training manuals as procedures and policies can change regularly in a workplace and it would also be easily accessible to all staff make their own personal contributions.