2025:Program/Strategies and challenges to start Wikimedia Projects conversations in libraries

Session title: Strategies and challenges to start Wikimedia Projects conversations in libraries

Session type: Pre-conference event

Track: GLAM

Language: en

Many library workers continue to hold the misconception that Wikipedia and sister projects are without sufficient review rigour and do not stand up to an academic standard. While the Wikimedia Foundation in its mission and values align with the library principles, specifically regarding information provision and contributing to open access and open science, there is still a gap between Wikimedia projects and libraries. There are opportunities for better alignment between the two entities through better understanding of the visions and mission of both Wikimedia and libraries; opportunities to integrate Wikimedia into work and training activities in libraries; opportunities for librarians to get more involved in Wikimedia projects that would increase the quality of Wikipedia and sister projects; and for librarians to directly contribute to spaces that combat misinformation and disinformation by lending their expertise in information stewardship to imperatives by the Wikimedia movement.

Description

Libraries and the Wikimedia Foundation share common goals: to help share in the sum of all knowledge; sustainable futures for all through knowledge and information (IFLA vision). There is acknowledgement by both the Wikimedia Foundation and IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations) that the global knowledge ecosystem privileges knowledge from the Global North. Both entities are committed to knowledge equity (giving special focus to Global South knowledge contributions) to rectify this imbalance to be able to enjoy a truly globally represented information landscape.

Wikipedia (and sister projects) offers the opportunity for fairly quick publishing of local content and the translation of pertinent content in local languages.

Through this workshop, we aim to equip librarians to develop strategy around introducing Wikimedia projects in their libraries.

At the WikiIndaba 2024, there was space in the programme to have a Library Connect session. This session was helpful in realising that librarians involved in the Wikimedia movement would benefit from having a space at Wikimania for facilitated conversations to develop strategies for better and more explicit alignment of the profession and Wikimedia projects. The objectives that we wish to achieve in this workshop are: - To develop a short pitch for librarians (inclusive of community, academic and special libraries) to present to library management for the involvement of Wikimedia projects in their work and spaces; - To unpack different Wikimedia projects and map librarian expertise to these projects; and, - To find ways to articulate the value of Wikimedia projects on a global scale and how this lines up with the imperatives of library and information work.

We envision for this to be a half day pre-conference workshop (09:00-13:00 with a tea break) to allow sufficient time for setting the scene through context building (unpacking the library context(s) by participants), group work to unpack Wikimedia projects, combined effort to align library contexts with Wikimedia projects, and finally working on a short pitch (elevator pitch) for participants to take back to their environments to introduce Wikimedia to library spaces.

We expect to follow this up in the main programme by participating in the panel discussion “The African Library ecosystem and the Wikimedia movement in the continent: A marriage made in heaven?”.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

Libraries and the Wikimedia Foundation share common goals: to help share in the sum of all knowledge; sustainable futures for all through knowledge and information (IFLA vision). We wish to unpack the impact of Wikimedia projects in communities - local content, and how community and public libraries could add value locally e.g., Discover uses of WikiSpecies for rural communities. Through the workshop we hope to explore ways for strategic alignment between library missions and Wikimedia projects.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• jeremiah

Jeremiah Pietersen is currently manager, learning and training at Stellenbosch University Library. In this role he has oversight of information literacy, and learning and teaching activities offered by the library and information service at Stellenbosch University. He is also currently on the board of the South African chapter of Wikimedia. Both these roles fit well together in working towards the democratisation of information and encouraging the creation of knowledge from the Global South.

• IngridThomson

As a librarian, my focus has been around Wikimedia + Libraries with an emphasis on advocacy and education for librarians. I am actively involved with the Wikimedia South Africa chapter, currently serving on its board, and am also involved with the broader movement working with other Wikimedians and Wikibrarians in Africa.

• Alice Kibombo

She is a librarian and a former WiR with AfLIA