Webupon

Both the library and Wikipedia are free resources. For the last 8 years Wikipedia has been putting up a fight with local libraries all around the world, but which source is more useful?

Wikipedia

Pros:

• Wikipedia provides instant information on hundreds of thousands of content on resources.
• Wikipedia is available in 262 languages so it helps people in all communities in one single resource.
• You can share your knowledge in the involving community.
• Great for finding out facts and information quickly.
• Information can be biased as users edit the information and content.

Cons:

• You will need access to the internet to use Wikipedia so without the internet you won’t have access.
• Information is publicly edited so content may not be truthful.
• You can’t directly use information on the website for research assignments as your supervisor will not accept it in tertiary levels.
• You don’t get out of the house and cannot ask for help from real people like you can in a library.
• False information can be spread like wild fire on the internet.

Your Local Library

Pros:

• Direct service is provided at your local library.
• Multiple forms of resources such as books, news papers, internet, etc.
• Multiple books go much more in depth than a single Wikipedia page on particular topics.
• Able to take the books out, so information can be accessed even in places you can’t use Wikipedia, like on a bus.
• No internet access is needed at all for using Wikipedia.

Cons:

• Books do not cover as many topics as Wikipedia.
• Books need to be returned and on time.
• Information in books can become outdated.
• Inability to edit and contribute your own knowledge into the system.
• The book you want may be borrowed by someone else.

Wikipedia is great if you want to find out stuff for yourself with updated information, but may be the wrong resource to use for proper research. Your local library is great for going in depth about topics rather that finding out some possible facts or two from Wikipedia. Librarians can offer you service and help you face to face rather just a search box on Wikipedia.