<p>As a trained librarian with an MLS, I would say Wikipedia should never ever be used as a source in a paper. However, as others have stated, it can be a great tool to point you to other more reliable sources.</p>
<p>Basically, if you are doing academic work, then for heaven's sake use academic sources. Nearly all college and university libraries subscribe to print and electronic (online) journals, and electronic research databases. To not use them and to use Wikipedia instead is intellectual laziness of the highest degree.</p>