These are good ideas, and thanks for getting the ball rolling. Back when we were talking about the relative lack of library involvement in GLAM activities on Wikipedia, I mentioned on the list that I think part of the problem is messaging, because we tend to spotlight the GLAMs with massive unique collections with activities like content donations and backstage passes. A library may have some original materials, but the standard library is simply a space where the public or scholars may go to satisfy their information needs, and most librarians work at public libraries which are not primarily about unique collections. This is actually a little odd of us, when you think about it, considering Wikipedia is a tertiary reference work and gives preference to secondary sources.

Though it could still use some help, I tried writing a nice-looking librarian-specific WLL portal page, which could eventually be reworked into a more general pitch librarians after WLL. Please take a look here: http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_Loves_Libraries

Last year, we ran site-wide notices for Wikipedia Loves Libraries, but they pointed to a rather bare-bones Wikipedian-centric meetup page, not friendly to librarians. This could be the page we point the librarians to in the future. Feel free to edit it. I think it could use more links, and a second look at the wording, which I wrote rather quickly.

Dominic

On 4 June 2012 19:13, Anne Britton <anne_britton@yahoo.com> wrote:
Great idea, Bob.

1. I think the phrasing of our email message should emphasize that pretty much anything goes with respect to goals or formats for WLL participation. We should be careful not to overdetermine how "WLL" might be interpreted.

2. That said, if we suggest possible event ideas in the email message, we might include language that characterizes Wikipedia-editing as one of today's must-have literacies. A library might hold a WLL event for non-Wikipedians in order to highlight Wikipedia as a participatory platform, "the encyclopedia anyone can edit," an everyday skill.

Anne


--- On Mon, 6/4/12, Bob Kosovsky <bobkosovsky@nypl.org> wrote:

From: Bob Kosovsky <bobkosovsky@nypl.org>
Subject: [libraries] Outreach to library staff
To: "Wikimedia & Libraries" <libraries@lists.wikimedia.org>
Date: Monday, June 4, 2012, 6:27 PM

[...]

So it's time to spring into action in order to prepare for Wikipedia Loves Libraries 2012 (WLL).  To start, I propose that we create an email message to be posted to various library-related email lists notifying people of the existence of and advantages of WLL.  (When I say "library" I mean to be inclusive of the other GLAM participants, although - for now - focusing on library staff [who are not always "librarians"].)

[...]

I'm thinking of some kind of concise, direct, and appealing message that lays out about 5 bullet points as to why library staff and libraries should be involved in WLL.  From there they can go to the Get Started page above.  

Some of the points I'm thinking of are:
  • Welcoming Wikipedians into your library can increase the number of users
  • Wikipedia activity in the library can foster a greater sense of community 
  • As the 6th most frequently visited site on the Internet, Wikipedia as the ability to highlight your library
  • Wikipedia's underlying message of access to information can underscore your library's efforts to provide access to patrons
  • If your library has unique materials, Wikipedians can help reveal knowledge and information about those materials

So how about it?  Maybe someone can set up a planning space on outreach.wikimedia.org so we can gather & organize our thoughts and share them with others?

[...]


_______________________________________________
Libraries mailing list
Libraries@lists.wikimedia.org
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/libraries