The GLAM-Wiki US Consortium brings together cultural organizations, Wikipedians, Wikimedia chapters, and individuals in an independent community of practice devoted to supporting the GLAM-Wikimedia initiative in the United States.
This professional network facilitates "GLAMs helping GLAMs," allowing cultural organizations to work together and with Wikipedians to discuss ideas, share resources, partner on projects, establish best practices, and collectively support one another in pursuits of Wikimedia and related projects.
Short-term goal: To maintain the momentum around a GLAM-Wiki US Consortium that facilitates the sharing of resources between cultural institutions, cultural professionals, Wikipedians, and chapters.
Long-term goal: To create a formal professional network and/or a non-profit organization that can support the growth of GLAM-Wikimedia partnerships in the US.
Are committed to the Wikimedia Foundation's values and mission to "empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content under a free license or in the public domain, and to disseminate it effectively and globally."
Believe that, as stewards of cultural heritage, both cultural institutions and Wikipedia have a duty to promote free access and use of cultural works they preserve. While recognizing that copyrighted cultural works play an important role in our work, we believe in the principles of the open access movement (as expressed in the IFLA Statement on open access). In particular, the advent of the Internet and the rise of a digital information commons demands that institutions strive to produce digital copies of their works, and that they do so while ensuring, through all legal and practical means, downstream use.
Believe that the missions and interests of both Wikimedia and cultural institutions can be met without compromise if both communities actively collaborate in a spirit of openness and empathy for each other's interests. Wikipedia should strive to become a welcoming and safe place for cultural institutions and professionals, while cultural institutions and professionals should be full, participating members of the Wikipedia online community.
Previously, Wikipedians have been the first to approach cultural organizations with a vision for GLAM-Wiki partnerships. Now cultural organizations and Wikipedians should collectively take ownership of the GLAM-Wiki initiative.
Cultural organizations have established their own expertise in this realm and can work together with Wikipedians to centralize resources and support for ongoing and future GLAM-Wiki partnerships.
Cultural organizations that have created a successful partnership with Wikipedia are best positioned to address concerns and help guide other cultural organizations in their first steps toward such partnerships.
The GLAM-Wiki US Consortium is engaging, relevant, and useful to both cultural professionals and Wikipedians who have taken part in or who are interested in GLAM-Wikimedia partnerships.
Cultural Professionals: Are able to be self-sufficient in supporting one another & sharing insights pan-institutionally.
Cultural Organizations & Affiliates: Are able to support projects and partnerships through shared resources.
Wikimedians: Are able to provide advice and outreach to cultural institutions expressing interest in projects & partnerships.
Wikimedia Chapters: Are able to serve as affiliate organizations and support partnerships through shared resources.
The GLAM-Wiki US Consortium maintains an advisory group made up of around six cultural professionals and six Wikipedians who, over the course of the next year, will focus on formalizing the core aims of the Consortium in congruence with all participants.
If you are a Wikipedian, cultural professional, or are otherwise interested in the Consortium, please sign up below, share your thoughts on the talk page, and join the mailing list.
