Opportunities for Academic and Research Libraries and Wikipedia

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) recently published a white paper on Opportunities for Academic and Research Libraries and Wikipedia explaining how academic and research libraries can cooperate with the famous online encyclopedia:

"IFLA has the opportunity to support libraries, library staff and library associations by enabling their members to engage with Wikipedia: through networking, skill development, and showcasing examples of successful cultural and knowledge collaborations that can act as models for potential future initiatives."

"This paper explores several ripe areas of mutual benefit and collaboration around crowdsourcing and community engagement: writing and reference, technical tasks, linked open data, project coordination, high-speed publishing, learning communities, and the support of teaching, learning, and research. There is also consideration of the challenges of pursuing this vital work together. However, the shared mission of sharing knowledge with the world, and the growing bridge that Wikipedia has created between libraries and other information and knowledge actors with the broader public, makes these collaborations broadly beneficial to both communities. Wikimedia and libraries’ collaboration strengthens the strategies, skills and tools available for both communities in their efforts to share knowledge with the world."

One example of collaboration took place at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia:

"Launched on January 15, the #1Lib1Ref campaign is uniting libraries around the world.

Supported by Wikipedia Library and a number of Wikimedia Affiliates, the campaign aims to make Wikipedia better for all by encouraging information professionals to add citations to Wikipedia entries."

"Libraries of all types and sizes are hosting activities and the Dalhousie Libraries is no exception. Lindsay McNiff (information management specialist librarian) and Margaret Vail (systems developer) hosted a ninety minute Wikipedia Edit-a-thon for the Dal Libraries on January 24."