Wikis and other things left unsaid

It was an interesting week perusing through Wikis and other various social bookmarking tools. What I found in Wikis included a cornucopia of information on various related topics. What I learned was that Wiki's have several interesting functions. Yes their primary function is to have groups communicating to inform others. But I now see the possibilities of Wikis as so much more. There was the library Wiki who decided to let the patrons get involved in the goal process of the library, allowing them to post concerns about the library and what they want to have changed in the process. While merely a list of stated desires of the library, it becomes almost a community bonding experience as I may agree that the children's library does not have enough windows in it, or that the reference department may want to include more books on a particular topic. I can see that I may not be alone in my view of the library, and know that the library is aware of my concerns.
Along with developing goals and running lists, Wikis can be a travel guide of sorts. The community of Rochester has links on the wiki about what to do in Rochester. It might not be an up to date guide, and certainly wouldn't use it for long term relevance, but it can give one an idea of what the people of the community consider interesting and valuable. And should I ever visit Rochester, I can have a place to start.
Then there are the Library Conference Wikis that become historical documents unto themselves. They have program listings and conference committees and all various forms of documents and things of interest about the conference. Once encapsulated together in this Wiki format they become a historical record of the time, the conference, and what was being said about the library at that point.
Ironically, I think I got caught up in the Wiki as place for debate the easiest. Maybe its because perversely some part of me likes to argue and wants to see discussion about a topic, not just postings edited by some vague and nefarious governing board. But I found historical documents and commentary about a debate in Davis over whether to uphold or reject a proposed boycott of goods and services of Israel. Whatever my position on such an event in a Coop far removed from me may be, it was interesting to not only see the historical documents (boycott proposal, boards rejection), but to see the arguments about the proposal rationally considered, and also a form of historical document as well. With all of these various ways that a Wiki can be used, I certainly have a greater appreciation for the Wiki format, outside of using it as a quick reference tool.