wikipedia in the library - the european library, amsterdam 2013

Wikipedia in the Library

Wikipedian in Residence Program

The British Library, 2012-13

Andrew Gray

@generalising // andrew@generalist.org.uk

Origins

● British Museum, 2010

● Articles about objects; public events

● Several more residencies worldwide

– mostly museums, “object-focused”

British Library

● Arts & Humanities Research Council funds

● Two goals:

–Support AHRC researchers

–Develop British Library-related content

Supporting researchers

● Training and guidance for research projects● Using Wikipedia for

– “contextualising” - public understanding

– “disseminating” - distributing content

– “capturing” - recording research

● Several events and case studies

In the Library

● Outreach & training

● Digital content

● Technical work

● ...and communication!

Outreach and training

● Training workshops– ~100 British Library staff

– ~300 public

● Public events– Workshops

– Conference

Creating digital content

● Picturing Canada4,000 historic photographs

Unique collection

● Royal ManuscriptsArticles on specific MS

Linked to cataloguing work

Picturing Canada

Reusing digital content

● Europeana 1914-18● 19th Century Books

Existing projects

Transformative uses

One pamphlet – 6000 words!

Technical work

● Authority control records

● Image metadata– Catalogue links & identifiers

– Encouraging best practice

Everywhere else

● Partnerships around Europe● Active local communities● Get in touch!

outreach.wikimedia.org

glam@wikimedia.org