Dear GLAM Wiki Community,
Based on previous discussions and insights gathered through meetings and surveys, the GLOSS Working Group has collectively decided to form a steering committee to prepare and submit an application for affiliate recognition.
To support this effort, the working group is seeking up to six new members from the ESEAP, SSA, and MENA regions to join the committee and contribute to drafting a charter for official submission.
From the GLOSS meetings, the needs assessment surveys, and recent Global calls, two key points of consensus emerged:
1. Community in focus:
Participants widely supported the idea that the initial focus of a GLAM affiliate should be on community-based activities such as:
Hosting global calls
Coordinating newsletters
Coordinating thematic tracks
Organising or supporting regional and global conferences
The affiliate would then progressively expand to support other GLAM activities through collaborative strategy development.
2. User group as a starting point:
While a Thematic Organization or Hub was highly rated in the survey, there is a clear consensus that an initial step—such as forming a Wikimedia User Group—may be most practical.
This user group could eventually evolve into or work alongside a more formal structure, while aligning with the broader hub development in progress, and with other entities in the Wikimedia movement.
Please express your interest in joining by August 14, 2025 — you can send me an email directly. The steering committee will convene during the week of August 18.
All the best,
Connor Benedict