Learning patterns/Wikipedian at Large
What problem does this solve?[edit]
In some countries or states, no institution has hosted a Wikipedian in Residence. Nobody wants to be the first, especially if it means committing money for a substantial period. What if they could host a fully-funded Wikimedian for a short period, to show them how uploads or editing work and train staff?
In some places, the Wikimedia community is disconnected, underfunded, and disporganised. What if an experienced Wikimedian could visit regularly to run training, set up regular meetups, and help organise an edit-a-thon?
What is the solution?[edit]
Funding a fixed-term contract for a "Wikipedian at Large": a person who travels between multiple organisations, where they:
- Run meetups and Wikiblitzes for the existing Wikimedia community
- Run public editing events to recruit and support new editors
- Work with the host instution on a small, manageable Wikimedia project: a Wikidata Mix'n'Match, a bulk Commons upload, or a group of relevant Wikipedia articles
- Run staff training/education for those interested in learning how Wikipedia works, introducing them to Commons and Wikidata, and helping them develop a Wikimedia strategy for their collections
- Giving media interviews (newspaper, radio, TV) on what Wikipedia is and how institutions can embrace it
The Wikipedian could spend 2–6 weeks physically based in each institution, which supplies a desk and WiFi (but not funding or other support). Or they could be based in a central location and travel long distances to multiple small institutions, digitising publications or taking photographs while there. Any combination is possible, but they need to be travelling, visible, and not the "property" of one GLAM organisation.
Things to consider[edit]
- This project will require full funding of a salary for six months or a year, plus travel costs and accommodation.
- The Wikimedian will be away from home temporarily or permanently for a substantial amount of time.
- The position is usually called a "Wikipedian at Large", since most people have heard of Wikipedia but nobody has heard of Wikimedia. Nevertheless, in practice Wikipedia, Commons, Wikidata, Wikisource, or Wiktionary could all be covered.
- A travel plan that revisits areas several times allows for multiple public events; which means new editors can be supported, rather than attending one event and never editing again.
- A Memorandum of Understanding with a host instuitution is useful, so each party is clear what their responsibilities are. A host institution is obliged to provide some work space and access to institutional knowledge and collections; they will need to refrain from exerting editorial sign-off on the Wikipedian's work, expecially connected with their institution, to avoid COI problems.
When to use[edit]
This model has real potential in countries where:
- Large GLAM organisations are cautious about hosting a full-time Wikipedian in Residence
- Where the population is widely dispersed
- Many small organisations could benefit from a visiting WIkipedian running workshops and helping with a small project