Grants:TPS/Bdcousineau/US OpenGLAM Launch Event/Report

OpenGLAM Launch Weekend

Description of your participation:
I attended as a Wikipedia editor, and as the facilitator of NARA's Ford Presidential Library and Museum Wikipedia project. Because NARA did not officially approve my attendance, I was not able to speak during conference sessions about our project details. I did speak during session breaks, and after the official day was over.

I also helped conference organizers set up supplies, do the initial check-in, and helped out with refreshments.

What lessons were learned that could help others in similar events?
The most wonderful thing about the weekend was the small number of participants. Because of the small group, we really got to understand all the projects and the participants. The participants had a sense of camaraderie - and this was extended into the evenings as we had cocktails and dinner as a group as well.

The organizer was also very nimble and able to change gears when the group wanted to investigate subjects off topic.

The conference participants received a lot of diverse information over a very short period of time, and I think by the end, we were all a little stunned. Although we had initially wanted to develop some best practices, by the end of the second day, it was clear that wouldn't happen. It took most of us (judging by the emails over the following days) several hours of down time to assimilate what we learned and formulate plans for each institution's distinct needs.

What impact did your participation have on the Wikimedia Mission goals of Increased Reach, Increased Quality, Increased Credibility, Increased and Diversified Participation?
This weekend has had at least two important outcomes. One of the sessions included a Skype-introduction to the Digital Public Library of America by its Director of Content. The DPLA is an aggregator of metadata and many museums and libraries are donating their data - including my employer, the National Archives and Records Administration. Previously, NARA had a WiR who uploaded materials to Wikimedia Commons. That position is now vacant, and its been difficult to get NARA to comment on how to proceed with this unfinished project. With the DPLA, Wikipedians do not have to wait for NARA to continue their uploads - those materials will be (presumably) available directly via the DPLA. My Wikimedia collaborators and I are making plans to be the DPLA's first "customers" (with a download of about 30k images from the Department of Defense, the Presidential Libraries, and the Census Bureau). We will, in effect, be able to complete the work started by the NARA WiR. I believe that not only will the DPLA benefit from having Wikipedia as an early customer, but continued use of DPLA metadata by Wikipedia editors will increase the quality and credibility of Wikipedia articles.

Secondly, I was able to meet with a Senior Program administrator from the OCLC, and chat with her about plans to use the local public library district as a meetup and teaching hub for Wikipedia editing. Although this is not a new idea, she was impressed enough to let me know that there is potential funding for this project. I will be in contact with her in the next weeks to give her details about it, which in Summer 2013 includes 3 meetups at two libraries, and two 3-week Wikipedia-editing teaching classes in two libraries. Even if the funding piece is unrealized, it's great to know that the OCLC now knows (and is positive!) about the project - and is interested in learning more about this model.

Detail of expenditures: Receipt sent, via separate email.

• Flight was $ 729.00 USD
• Participation Grant not to exceed $ 300.00 USD

Amount underspent/left-over (please specify currency): None.