2025:Program/Sustainable Partnerships: Exploring Ways Libraries and Wikimedia can Collaborate on Long-Term Initiatives to Preserve Cultural Heritage
Session title: Sustainable Partnerships: Exploring Ways Libraries and Wikimedia can Collaborate on Long-Term Initiatives to Preserve Cultural Heritage
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: Partnerships
- Language: en
🎥 Session recording: https://w.wiki/F8Sa 🎥
Libraries are vital institutions for knowledge preservation, while Wikimedia projects serve as powerful platforms for open access to information. This session explores how sustainable partnerships between libraries and Wikimedia communities can enhance the preservation and accessibility of cultural heritage. Using case studies—including experiences from The Gambia—this session will highlight successful library-Wikimedia collaborations and propose practical models for long-term engagement. Participants will gain insights into effective strategies for fostering partnerships, overcoming challenges, and implementing library-driven Wikimedia initiatives that support cultural preservation.
Description
Description This session aims to demonstrate the potential for long-term collaborations between libraries and Wikimedia projects in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. Libraries house vast amounts of valuable historical and cultural materials, yet many remain inaccessible to the public. By working together, Wikimedia volunteers and librarians can bridge this gap, digitizing, documenting, and sharing knowledge through Wikimedia platforms such as Wikipedia, Wikisource, and Wikimedia Commons. The discussion will be grounded in real-world experiences, including efforts to promote Wikimedia projects in The Gambia. As part of the ongoing initiative to build a Wikimedia user group in the country, there have been efforts to engage librarians in contributing to Wikimedia projects. This session will showcase the challenges and opportunities encountered while introducing Wikimedia to library professionals, the role of the Gambia National Library in knowledge preservation, and the potential for digitization projects to enhance access to national bibliographies and historical archives.
The session will cover the following key areas: 1. The Role of Libraries in Wikimedia Projects – How libraries contribute to Wikimedia initiatives through digitization, referencing, and open access. 2. Experiences from The Gambia – Efforts to introduce Wikimedia projects to Gambian librarians, challenges in adoption, and strategies for increasing engagement. 4. Best Practices for Sustainable Partnerships – Successful case studies from different regions, highlighting effective engagement models. 5. Challenges and Solutions – Addressing barriers such as digital literacy, copyright concerns, and institutional support. 6. Practical Steps for Collaboration – Actionable strategies for libraries and Wikimedia communities to establish and sustain partnerships.
Through an interactive discussion, participants will share experiences, exchange ideas, and brainstorm strategies tailored to their local contexts. The session will conclude with recommendations on fostering long-term collaboration between Wikimedia communities and libraries to ensure the continuous preservation of cultural heritage.
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?
1. Inclusivity: Libraries serve diverse communities and can act as bridges for underrepresented groups to contribute to Wikimedia. This session highlights how engaging libraries can increase participation from regions with limited Wikimedia involvement, such as The Gambia. 2. Impact: Sustainable partnerships between Wikimedia and libraries ensure the long-term availability of historical and cultural information. This session will provide practical strategies for making meaningful contributions to Wikimedia projects. 3. Sustainability: By fostering long-term collaborations between libraries and Wikimedia, this session promotes the continuous preservation of knowledge and ensures that library professionals integrate Wikimedia into their daily work.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
Speakers
- gayobah
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