Wikipedia, 3.5 Million Articles & Counting: Using and Assessing the People's Encyclopedia

by Heather Hasan

Wikipedia-the massive, ever-expanding, and entirely free online encyclopedia largely written, edited, and managed by volunteers-has transformed the way people seek information. Many teachers and librarians scorn it, due to its entries' frequent errors and biases. An even-handed and realistic approach to Wikipedia is presented, acknowledging serious flaws and shortcomings as a research tool, while also explaining the value in it. The book addresses how users can lodge complaints about a Wikipedia entry, how entries are corrected, and how one goes about writing an entry. Finally, the latest thinking of teachers, librarians, and school administrators regarding Wikipedia will be discussed, as will their suggestions for how best to use the online encyclopedia as a legitimate research tool.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2011