1. Wikimania 2013 2. New website for Wikimedia Argentina
3. Conferences about Digitization Project 4. Creative Commons Global Summit 5. Literary contests in Buenos Aires Province 6. Conference at the National University of Córdoba
== Wikimania 2013 ==
As in previous editions, we took part at the international summit that unites Wikimedians all over the world. This 2013 edition witnessed the record of Argentinian participants, with 10 representatives, the largest number ever to attend a Wikimania (not counting the 2009 edition, held in Buenos Aires). Wikimedia Argentina supported the participation of 3 members of the association.
The topics addressed in the different presentations run through the most important topics of the movement, including for example the Wikimedia Foundation's strategy for developing countries, activities from local chapters all over the world, and the road ahead for the movement in the following years. Some technical breakthroughs were also addressed, like the visual editor project from the Editor Engagement Team.
Wikimedia Argentina participated in several activities with other Ibero American groups, as part of the Iberocoop initiative. Some opportunities for cooperation were drafted and will be developed further in the summit to be held in Mexico City next October. Wikimedia Argentina participated with other Iberocoop members in a small stand at the Chapters Village and also gave a presentation about the Mujeres Iberoamericanas contest.
== New website for Wikimedia Argentina ==
After a month's work, we launched our new website, with a strong graphic identity and new sections. This new platform has a special section for the organization's events, including them in a calendar and tools to share them more easily, engaging better with our members and volunteers.
A header highlights the most important news, and the projects we develop are more visible now as well. We hope that this new platform allows a better communication with our members (also, allowing them to promote their own projects and activities, as long as they are in line with the organization's goals) and with the general public that approaches Wikimedia Argentina for more information.
On Tuesday, August 20th, Wikimedia Argentina made a presentation at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Buenos Aires about the digitalization program based on do-it-yourself scanners that our Association has conducted with other institutions in the past year. Daniel Reetz, creator of the DIY Book Scanner Project, shared his experience and discussed the relationship between digitization, public domain and new technologies. On Thursday August 22, Reetz made a presentation at the Creative Commons Global Summit and the next day held a similar talk on the Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Education (FaHCE) of the National University of La Plata.
In the past year, Wikimedia Argentina has supported digitization of academic and historical material possessed by various Argentine institutions and has promoted their upload to Wikimedia Commons and Wikisource. While the Faculty of Arts of the UBA has used its own scanner, FaHCE Library has a scanner built by Wikimedia Argentina and delivered on a free loan. The DIY scanners are devices easily put together with prefabricated parts that allows anyone to scan books and documents at a low cost. To date, 71 documents have been digitized and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons for free use by these and other institutions (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Files_scanned_with_collaboration_of_Wikimedia_Argentina).
== Creative Commons Global Summit ==
The Creative Commons Global Summit was held this year in Argentina and was organized jointly by Wikimedia Argentina and Fundación Vía Libre (who together represent Creative Commons in the country). It was the first edition of this conference on a Spanish-speaking country. The summit brought together the Creative Commons affiliates from around the world along with the CC board members, their staff, colleagues, representatives and others interested in the present and future of free culture.
Participants discussed strategies for strengthening Creative Commons and its global community and made several presentations on the latest developments in the global movement, while many volunteers had the opportunity to expose local and international projects using Creative Commons licenses. Between August 21 and 24, more than 300 people participated at the San Martin Cultural Center, the main venue of the conference.
On Friday August 23, the most anticipated events of the summit took place: the presentation of Lawrence Lessig, who drew attention to the copyright license limitations currently taking place in creative processes. Lessig also raised questions and key issues of the debate on copyright and outreach, and proposed key aspects to be considered in proposals for copyright reform. A summary of this presentation is available on our website (in Spanish at http://www.wikimedia.org.ar/2013/08/28/leyes-que-ahogan-la-creatividad-repasamos-la-conferencia-de-lawrence-lessig-en-buenos-aires/)
== Literary contests in Buenos Aires Province ==
Wikimedia Argentina is supporting a series of literary contests organized by the Direction of Libraries and Reading Promotion of the Buenos Aires Province. These contests consist of the 3rd. "Arturo Jauretche" National Essay Contest, the 3rd. "Enrique Santos Discépolo" National Drama Contest and the VII "Haroldo Conti" National Contest for Young Story-tellers. Works can be submitted from July 18th to October 18th.
Support for these contests is given in the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between Wikimedia Argentina and the Cultural Institute of the Buenos Aires Province.
== Conference at the National University of Córdoba ==
As part of our collaboration agreement with the National University of Córdooba, on Thursday August 29th, the conference "Free licences and access to knowledge at the university" was presented by Evelin Heidel and Beatriz Busaniche, members of Wikimedia Argentina. The summit was organized by the Education Technology Area of the institution and the local chapter.