Wikimedia+Libraries/Program/Submission/Building Sustainable Wikibrarian Community in the Global South: Library Associations as Facilitators
Name(s) and/or username(s)[edit]
Omorodion Okuonghae
- Email address: okuonghaeo@yahoo.com
- Affiliate, Position (if any)
Wikimedia Usergroup Nigeria
Topic[edit]
- Advocacy and Outreach in Local Contexts
Type of submission (Please choose one)[edit]
- Individual Presentations (15 minutes)
Keywords and hashtags[edit]
Please suggest 3-4 keywords and/or hashtags to help us understand your proposal.
- Capacity Building; Wikibrarians, Wikibrarian Community, Global South.
Abstract[edit]
The Wikimedia movement have always been a community driven movement. Information professionals like Librarians are particularly encouraged to join the movement which canvasses for open knowledge. Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikisource offer librarians the opportunity to deliver improved library services and promote information literacy among library users. However, despite these benefits, there seem to be, in a relative sense, fewer (active) involvement of librarians in Wikimedia activities from the perspective of the Global South. Although it is evident that retention of recruited editors is a major challenge within the movement, there should, however, be more librarians involved in Wikimedia activities given its direct link to Librarianship and library services. Therefore Librarians involved in Wikimedia projects (Wikibrarians), must seek for ways to build an active Wikibrarian community to ensure quality information is available and accessible to everyone. This presentation will therefore focus on how Wikibrarians can develop and sustain a Wikibrarian community by leveraging on partnerships with Library Association(s). The approaches, possible challenges and how to overcome those challenges will be highlighted in this presentation. The presentation will make specific reference to my partnership with the Nigerian Library Association, Edo State Chapter, to build a Wikibrarian Community in Edo State. If need be, a case study report on the Wikipedia Train-the-Trainer workshop for Librarians in Edo State will be delivered.
Expected outcomes[edit]
- Wikibrarians will be exposed to the possible ways (approaches) to build a Wikibrarian community and ensure retention of recruited Librarians.
- Understand the possible challenges associated with building a Wikibrarian community.
- Identify partnership institutions that can be leveraged on to ensure sustainability.
Duration (without Q&A)[edit]
15 - 20 Minutes
Specific requirements[edit]
System (laptop) for projecting, Projector and projector screen.