Wikipedian in residence facts for kids
A Wikipedian in Residence (often called a WiR) is a special kind of Wikipedia editor. They work with places like art galleries, libraries, archives, museums, or universities. Their main job is to help these places share their knowledge and collections on Wikipedia.
WiRs help by adding information related to the institution's work. They also encourage the institution to share its materials freely online. This helps connect the institution with the wider Wikimedia community, which is the group of people who create and edit Wikipedia and its sister projects. A WiR often helps organize events like editathons. These events teach people how to edit Wikipedia.
Many famous places have hosted a WiR. These include the British Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Library of Wales. Smaller places like the Derby Museum and Art Gallery and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis have also had WiRs.
Contents
What a WiR Does
-
A WiR talking at the Zeeuws Archief
-
A WiR teaching librarians in Stockholm
-
WiRs who are librarians in Tunis
-
A WiR teaching about digitizing old documents
-
A WiR teaching students about Wiki projects
.jpg)
Connecting Institutions and Wikipedia
The main job of a Wikipedian in Residence is to be a link. They connect the institution they work for with the Wikimedia community. They help organize events and training sessions. These activities support the goals of both the institution and Wikipedia.
Teaching and Editing
WiRs often teach people how to use Wikipedia. They lead training events and editathons. An edit-a-thon is an event where people gather to edit Wikipedia articles. WiRs also explain Wikipedia's rules and practices to staff and the public. They might also edit articles themselves. These articles are usually about the institution's collections or its special topics.
Sharing Digital Collections
Another important task is working with digital collections. A WiR can teach how to digitize (scan) old photos or documents. They help upload these digital files to Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons is a huge library of free-to-use images and media. Volunteers can then add descriptions, translate text, and organize these files. This makes the media easy to find and use on Wikipedia.
Connecting Data to Wikipedia
WiRs also help connect large databases to Wikipedia. For example, some WiRs have helped link library catalogs to Wikipedia. This makes it faster for editors to add references to articles. They also help connect other types of data, like information about authors or rights.
How Long WiRs Work
Some WiRs work for a short time, maybe just a few weeks. Others have jobs that last much longer, even permanent positions. For short-term roles, it's important to plan the work carefully beforehand.
How WiRs Are Paid
Wikipedia usually doesn't allow people to be paid directly for editing articles. However, Wikipedians in Residence are allowed to be paid. They can receive a salary or a stipend from the institution they work for. The important rule is that they must not use Wikipedia to advertise or promote the institution. Their work must be about sharing knowledge, not marketing.
How the Idea Grew
The First WiRs
The idea of a Wikipedian in Residence started in 2010. An Australian named Liam Wyatt became the first WiR. He volunteered at the British Museum for five weeks. He believed that Wikipedia and museums should work together. He said they were "doing the same thing for the same reason, for the same people."
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis was next. A Wikipedian named Lori Phillips volunteered there in 2010. Then, Benoît Evellin spent six months at the Palace of Versailles in France. The Museu Picasso in Spain and the Derby Museum and Art Gallery in England also quickly adopted the idea.
Expanding to More Institutions
In 2010, the Smithsonian Institution hired Sarah Stierch as their WiR. The next year, the National Archives and Records Administration hired Dominic McDevitt-Parks. He was a student studying history and archives. He had been editing Wikipedia since 2004.
In 2011, Wikimedia UK hired Andy Mabbett. He worked at a wildlife charity called Wildscreen. Since then, Mabbett has been a WiR at other places, like the Royal Society of Chemistry.
In 2013, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library became the first presidential library to hire a WiR. They hired Michael Barera, a student from the University of Michigan.
Later in 2013, the National Archives and Records Administration made history again. They hired Dominic McDevitt-Parks as the first permanent, full-time Wikipedian in Residence.
Growth and New Roles
By 2016, more than 100 Wikipedians had taken on this role. Most were paid by the institution or a Wikimedia group. Some were volunteers. From 2018 to 2019, Mike Dickison became the first "Wikipedian at large." He worked for short periods at many different places in New Zealand.
See also
In Spanish: Wikipedista residente para niños
- List of Wikipedia people
