WLUG SC 2025 candidate/Alequihdez
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Alejandra Quiroz Hernández (Alequihdez)
[edit]Alequihdez (talk • meta edits • global user summary • CA)
| Preferred name | Alejandra Quiroz Hernández | |
|---|---|---|
| What languages do you speak, and at what fluency level? (Please include your English proficiency.) | Spanish, English (C2), French (B2), Swedish (B1) | |
| What region(s) of the world do you have experience with, and what kind of experience do you have? (“Experience” can mean you have lived or worked there or are currently living or working there; you’re familiar with the culture and language; etc.) | My specific experience has been in school, public, and academic libraries. From 2014 to 2018, I worked at the Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City, where we began a strong collaboration with Wikimedia Mexico. Thanks to this role, and due to my innate curiosity, I began taking trips specifically dedicated to exploring libraries. I have connected with librarians from France, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Among my most fortunate experiences was participating in the Next Library satellite conference in Berlin, which allowed me to identify common challenges in libraries around the world.
Although I visited cities in Japan and China, the language barrier prevented me from communicating effectively with the staff. However, I was able to learn about their services and appreciate the quality of their staff. In the case of Latin America, my region, I am familiar with the library dynamics in Chile and Colombia, as I have had the opportunity to participate in distance learning courses and conferences. In 2020 I was part of the program #EmergingInternationalVoices organized by IFLA and Goethe Institute. It was a magnificent opportunity to engage with colleagues from different countries. We focused in digital librarianship. In 2021, I was the editor of a library magazine titled Knovvmads, now out of print. This allowed me to meet different librarians in the United States, interview them, and inform the public about their practices. | |
| What Wikimedia project(s) do you actively edit? And in what language(s)? | I usually edit on Wikicommons in Spanish. On the Spanish Wikipedia, I usually add references. I have some articles under construction, but I haven't been able to finalize them and make them public. | |
| What affiliate(s) are you actively involved with? In what capacity are you involved? Do you serve in a leadership role or have you in the past? | I'm a member of the leadership team for the #EveryBookItsReader campaign, which focuses on generating and improving book-related content for Wikimedia projects.
I've been a Wikimedia Mexico member since this year, although I've occasionally contributed to its activities. | |
| Please describe any experience you have with working in Wikipedia/Library. | While working at the library, I collaborated on edit-a-thons and editatonas. Outside of this role, I have contributed to the #EveryBookItsREader and #1lib1ref campaigns, primarily to engage librarians.
As a librarian, I have been responsible for developing educational programs related to library services. I am familiar with collection development, the digital library, statistical analysis, and user studies. Although I have not worked in a library for five years, I have continued to train staff on topics related to third spaces, social infrastructure, the care perspective in public spaces, child and youth participation, and have provided advice on the development of children's collections. | |
| What is your view on the development of our affiliation? | I consider it is essential to have an inclusive and global perspective that is strengthened by the diversity of languages. Although many professionals communicate in English, the truth is that their level of language proficiency is not ideal, and this leaves them out of the conversation. I have seen this in the various international activities in which I have participated: there is almost no presence from Latin America or the Global South due to both language and economic restrictions.
I believe that the effort to develop Wikimedia in different languages must coincide with the integration and reach of this user group. Diversity is not only important in terms of accessibility but also in terms of being able to learn about other knowledge, approaches, and traditions that could complement the impact of the relationship between libraries and Wikimedia projects. Additionally, we must strengthen library principles in order to create a coherent group consistent with democratic values. | |