2025:Program/How to Wikibase: National Library of Nigeria Authority Semantic files on Wikibase
Session title: How to Wikibase: National Library of Nigeria Authority Semantic files on Wikibase
- Session type: Workshop - 85 minutes
- Track: GLAM
- Language: en
🎥 Session recording: https://w.wiki/FC9q 🎥
Wikibase provides an avenue for libraries to turn their Authority files and library metadata into discoverable databases. The African Library and Information Associations and Institutions working with a Knowledge Equity Fund from Wikimedia Foundation and through the support of Wikimedia Deutschland created a Wikibase cloud for the National Library of Nigeria. The workshop will showcase the nlnsnar.wikibase.cloud and lead the participants of the workshop through practical steps to creating a Wikibase cloud for their libraries
Description
With a grant from the Knowledge Equity Fund of Wikimedia Foundation, and support from Wikimedia Deutschland, the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions(AfLIA) undertook a project, Integrating Wikimedia Projects into African Libraries Ecosystem. A core objective of the project was to create Semantic Authority files using the National Library of Nigeria as a model which AfLIA can replicate in other libraries across the continent especially National libraries which are treasure houses of the documentary heritage of their nations. This is important as much of their resources which may be visible digitally, do not have metadata that are linked to other libraries/databases or in a machine-readable format that can be aggregated to create more knowledge and/or used for the semantic web. This has led to information about African entities and subjects in Wikimedia projects being linked or ‘validated’ through databases outside the continent. The danger in this is the lack of full representation of African knowledge resources, and their scholarly and cultural works in online spaces. The workshop which is primarily targeted at librarians will showcase how this challenge can be addressed through Wikibase to create Semantic Authority files. The National Library of Nigeria Wikibase cloud - nlnsnar.wikibase.cloud will be used as a practical example to take the participants through the steps for creating and populating a Wikibase cloud, the challenges of properties to use, items to be created for the chosen properties, the skills and tools needed to effectively sustain a Wikibase cloud. Furthermore, the workshop will lead other librarians to a better understanding of how Wikibase can be integrated into their routine cataloguing workflow as a means of maintaining a discoverable Authority Control files database that can be linked with other databases.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
Libraries are a great source of knowledge. Integrating Wikimedia projects into library routines will make African knowledge more visible and engender a more robust and inclusive representation of African narratives in Wikimedia projects. It will also breed sustainability when libraries as heritage institutions use Wikimedia projects in their daily workflows.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- neosuigwe
- Nkem Osuigwe (PhD) has served as the Head of the public library system in Anambra State Nigeria (2009 -2015), a Director of Nigerian Book Foundation(2016-2018)where she currently sits as a member, Board of Trustees. Presently, she works with AfLIA(African Library and Information Associations and Institutions) with headquarters in Accra, Ghana as the Director, Human Capacity and Training. In 2022, she won the the Wikimedian of the Year 2022, (Newcomer category). She had won the Dr. Victoria Okojie award on Advocacy and promotion of Library services in 2015 and the Wikimedia Nigeria User Group Torchbearer Award in 2023. She is an alumnus of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and serves in the UNESCO/IGF OER Dynamic Advisory Group.
- p-o
- My name is Doreen Appiah. I am a Ghanaian and a Librarian by profession working with the African Library and Information Association and Institutions - AfLIA as a program officer. My journey with Wikimedia started in 2020. I was part of the trainers for AfLIA's African Librarians Week (AfLibWk) 1Lib1Ref event in 2020. I can comfortably edit and add citations to Wikipedia articles, add images/edit on Wikicommons, create items and edit Wikidata entries and currently on Wikibase.
- SBAbigstan
- Stanley Boakye-Achampong works with AfLIA, the continental association of library and information institutions and professionals in Africa, where he leads research and communications. He is also the Secretary to the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) Africa Management Committee, an IFLA Impact Trainer and a Climate Reality Leader. He has been contributing to Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects since 2020, and he’s especially interested in Wikidata because of his love for research and data. Stanley helps organize the African Librarians Week, which brings librarians together every year to add and improve references on Wikipedia as part of the #1Lib1Ref campaign. He has trained and supported many librarians across Africa to contribute to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. Stanley has also been part of several Wikimedia Foundation-funded projects run by AfLIA, including Wikipedia in African Libraries, Promoting Open Knowledge in African Libraries through Wikidata, and Integrating Wikimedia Projects into African Libraries (IWIPALE).