Wikipedian in residence

File:UNESCO Wikipedian in Residence Zeeuws Archief 23.jpeg|UNESCO Memory of the World WiR talking at the Zeeuws Archief

File:Bibliotekspersonal på Stockholms stadsbiblioteket.jpg|WiR running a training course for librarians in Stockholm

File:WikiArabiaConf day01 egypt 2017 metwally (102).jpg|WiRs who are librarians in Tunis

File:Proyecto de digitalización de Wikimedia Argentina VII.jpg|WiR teaching digitization skills at the Archivo Histórico de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

File:Jagseer S Sidhu teaching school students about Wikipedia.jpg|WiR teaching about various Wiki Projects to School students

The primary role of the Wikipedian in Residence (WiR) is often to serve as a liaison between the host institution and the Wikimedia community by assisting with events and training that support the missions of both organisations. Typical training duties include arranging and/or leading training events and editathons{{cite news |url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/16/british_library_wikipedian/ |title = British Library seeks taxpayer-funded Wikipedia-fiddler |work = The Register |date = 16 February 2012 |access-date = 19 June 2013 |last = Orlowski |first = Andrew |author-link = Andrew Orlowski }}{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22264118 |title = National Library of Scotland recruits 'Wikipedian' |work = BBC News |date = 24 April 2013 |access-date = 19 June 2013 }} and providing explanations to other staff and members of the public about policies and practices, such as policies about conflict of interest. Editing activities may include making contributions to articles relevant to the institution's materials and mission, such as articles about significant cultural objects in an organization's collection,{{cite news |url = http://www.bristolwireless.net/2013/04/national-library-of-scotland-seeks-wikipedian-in-residence/ |title = National Library of Scotland seeks Wikipedian in residence |work = Bristol Wireless |date = 18 April 2013 |access-date = 19 June 2013 |last = Woods |first = Steve |archive-date = 2 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102120222/http://www.bristolwireless.net/2013/04/national-library-of-scotland-seeks-wikipedian-in-residence/ |url-status = dead }} or articles in a specific field of knowledge.{{cite web |last1=O’Connor |first1=Siobhan |last2=White |first2=Alice |last3=Thomas |first3=Sara |last4=McAndrew |first4=Ewan |title=Editathon – Wikimedian in Residence |url=https://thinking.is.ed.ac.uk/wir/tag/editathon/ |access-date=30 July 2019| date=January 24, 2019}}

Another common form of collaboration involves digital collections.{{cite web |title=GLAM/Model projects - Outreach Wiki |url=https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/GLAM/Model_projects |website=outreach.wikimedia.org |access-date=30 July 2019 |language=en}} A WiR can provide training on digitization and help upload media (with any existing metadata) to Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia volunteers can then translate, extend, and reverify metadata, categorizing media{{cite journal |last1=Chemello |first1=Marco |last2=Leva |first2=Federico |title=The effectiveness of a Wikimedian in permanent residence: the BEIC case study |journal=JLIS.it |date=15 September 2018 |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=141–147 |doi=10.4403/jlis.it-12481 |url=https://www.jlis.it/article/view/12481 |language=en |issn=2038-1026 |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429092425/https://www.jlis.it/article/view/12481 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Fawcett |first1=Kirstin |title=Met Museum Makes 375,000 Images Freely Available Online |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/92068/met-museum-makes-375000-images-freely-available-online |work=Mental Floss |date=8 February 2017 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927183753/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/92068/met-museum-makes-375000-images-freely-available-online |archive-date= Sep 27, 2023 }}{{cite news |date= February 7, 2017 |last1=Voon |first1=Claire |title=Metropolitan Museum Gives Unrestricted Access to 375,000 Images |url=https://hyperallergic.com/357004/metropolitan-museum-gives-unrestricted-access-to-375000-images/ |website=Hyperallergic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204184050/https://hyperallergic.com/357004/metropolitan-museum-gives-unrestricted-access-to-375000-images/ |archive-date= Dec 4, 2023 }} and manually transcribing and structuring scanned documents on Wikisource.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Mary |title=Meet Our Wikipedian in Residence: Dominic McDevitt-Parks |url=https://narations.blogs.archives.gov/2011/06/01/meet-our-wikipedian-in-residence-dominic-mcdevitt-parks/ |website=NARAtions |access-date=30 July 2019 |date=1 June 2011}} The description and categorization functions on Wikimedia Commons are sometimes preferred to those of commercial websites{{cite web |last1=Schlosser |first1=Melanie |title=Wikipedian-in-Residence visit |website=The Libraries, Ohio State University |date=December 10, 2013 |url=https://library.osu.edu/site/digitalscholarship/2013/12/10/wikipedian-in-residence-visit/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221094448/https://library.osu.edu/site/digitalscholarship/2013/12/10/wikipedian-in-residence-visit/ |url-status=dead }} and the institution's catalogue software. Media added to Commons are used in Wikipedia, both by the WiRs and by volunteer editors.

A third form of collaboration involves datasets and APIs in their own right; for instance, the Wikimedia Foundation funded a Wikipedian in Residence at OCLC to integrate the OCLC's WorldCat Search API into Wikipedia's citation autocompletion tools, making adding references faster for Wikipedia editors.{{cite web |title=OCLC and Wikipedia Library link citations to millions of library materials, expanding access to quality sources |url=https://www.oclc.org/en/news/releases/2017/201713dublin.html |website=OCLC |language=en |date=11 December 2017}} WiRs have also helped integrate ORCID metadata{{cite web |last1=Meadows |first1=Alice |title=Meet our Wikipedian-in-Residence, Andy Mabbett! |url=https://orcid.org/blog/2016/01/15/meet-our-wikipedian-residence-andy-mabbett |website=orcid.org |language=en |date=15 January 2016}} and rights statement data.{{cite web |title=RightsStatements in Wikidata |url=https://rightsstatements.org/en/2019/05/rightsstatements-in-wikidata.html |website=rightsstatements.org}} Some WiRs work for only a short period, as little as a few weeks, while others have permanent positions. In the case of short-term positions, it is important that the work to be done be well-planned in advance.

While Wikipedia discourages direct paid compensation for article editing and prohibits undisclosed advocacy, Wikipedians in residence are permitted to be compensated for work on-wikiWikipedia:Conflict of interest#Wikipedians in residence, Wikipedia. – either by offering credit, stipend, or salary – through their sponsoring institutions {{em|provided that}} they adhere to strict guidelines against engaging in public relations or marketing for their institution.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

[[File:Wikimedian in Residence map 2019.png|thumb

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Interactive map of Wikimedians in residence listed, sorted by year

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In 2010, Australian Liam Wyatt became the first Wikipedian in residence when he volunteered at the British Museum for a period of five weeks.{{cite web |last = Cohen |first = Noam |title = Venerable British Museum Enlists in the Wikipedia Revolution |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/arts/design/05wiki.html |work = The New York Times |access-date = 27 January 2013 |date = 5 June 2010 }}{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/arts/artsspecial/warming-up-to-the-culture-of-wikipedia.html |title = Warming Up to the Culture of Wikipedia |work = The New York Times |date = 19 March 2014 |access-date = 24 March 2014 |last = Cohen |first = Noam }} He noted the need for Wikipedia to strengthen partnerships with museums to create the most up-to-date and accurate information,{{cite web |title = Museum Hires First Wikipedian-in-Residence |url = http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=49490#middle |work = Inside INdiana Business |access-date = 27 January 2013 |location = Indianapolis, Indiana |date = 19 August 2011 |archive-date = 5 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105105257/http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=49490#middle |url-status = dead }} saying "we are doing the same thing for the same reason, for the same people, in the same medium. Let's do it together." The Children's Museum of Indianapolis became involved with the program after Wikipedian Lori Phillips volunteered for a GLAM event in 2010, becoming the second Wikipedian in residence. The third, Benoît Evellin, spent six months at the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France.GLAM Château de Versailles project page, Wikipedia. The Museu Picasso in Barcelona, SpainGLAM Museu Picasso project page, Wikipedia. and the Derby Museum and Art Gallery in Derby, England were also early adopters of the idea.GLAM Derby project page, Wikipedia.

In 2010, the Smithsonian Institution expressed interest in the idea, which led to the hiring of Sarah Stierch in July as Wikipedian in residence.{{cite web |last = Cohen |first = Noam |title = Success may be Wikipedia's biggest challenge |url = http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/07/12/success_may_be_wikipedias_biggest_challenge/ |work = The Boston Globe |access-date = 27 January 2013 |date = 12 July 2010 }}{{cite web |last = Switzer |first = Cody |url = http://philanthropy.com/blogs/social-philanthropy/wikipedian-in-residence-helps-share-smithsonian-archives/28989 |title = Wikipedian-in-residence helps share Smithsonian archives |work = The Chronicle of Philanthropy |date = 28 July 2011 |access-date = 27 January 2013 |archive-date = 25 January 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130125015406/http://philanthropy.com/blogs/social-philanthropy/wikipedian-in-residence-helps-share-smithsonian-archives/28989 |url-status = dead }}{{cite web |last = Shen |first = Aviva |url = http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2012/04/how-many-women-does-it-take-to-change-wikipedia/ |title = How many women does it take to change Wikipedia? |work = Smithsonian Magazine |date = 4 April 2012 |access-date = 27 January 2013 }}{{Cite news |work = The Independent |first = Paul |last = Gallagher |title = Wikipedia fires editor who enhanced entries for cash |date = 10 January 2014 |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/wikipedia-fires-editor-who-enhanced-entries-for-cash-9052308.html }} The following year, the National Archives and Records Administration followed suit and hired Dominic McDevitt-Parks, a student from Simmons College, who was pursuing a master's degree in history and archives management, to work at its Archives II location in College Park, Maryland.{{Cite news |work = The Baltimore Sun |first = Julie |last = Baughman |title = National Archives hires 'Wikipedian in residence' |date = 13 July 2011 |url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/2011/07/13/national-archives-hires-wikipedian-in-residence/ |access-date = 26 April 2013 |archive-date = 22 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022080524/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-13/news/bs-md-wikipedia-archives-20110621_1_national-archives-wikipedian-archives-information |url-status = live }}{{Cite news |newspaper = The Washington Post |first = Lisa |last = Rein |title = National Archives hires first 'Wikipedian' |date = 2 June 2011 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/national-archives-hires-first-wikipedian/2011/03/23/AG63MCHH_blog.html |access-date = 26 April 2013 }} McDevitt-Parks had been editing Wikipedia since 2004 and was hired for this position by David Ferriero.{{Cite news |work = Tampa Bay Times |title = National Archives appoints a 'Wikipedian' |date = 3 June 2011 |url = http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/national-archives-appoints-a-wikipedian/1173507 |access-date = 26 April 2013 |archive-date = 8 November 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131108000745/http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/national-archives-appoints-a-wikipedian/1173507 |url-status = dead }}

In July 2011 Wikimedia UK engaged Andy Mabbett, an editor since 2003, as an "outreach ambassador" in residence at the Bristol-based wildlife charity Wildscreen, working on the ARKive project.{{cite news |url = http://www.bristol247.com/2011/09/16/bristol-wikipedians-taught-to-edit-online-encylopaedia-26319/ |title = Bristol 'Wikipedians' taught to edit online encyclopaedia |last = Zaba |first = Christina |date = 16 September 2011 |work = Bristol24-7 |archive-date = 14 July 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714142206/http://www.bristol247.com/2011/09/16/bristol-wikipedians-taught-to-edit-online-encylopaedia-26319/ |url-status=dead }} Since then Mabbett has been a Wikipedian in residence at other organisations such as the New Art Gallery Walsall{{cite web |url = http://www.museumsassociation.org/museum-practice/wikipedia/17062013-the-new-art-gallery-walsall |title = The New Art Gallery Walsall |last = Brown |first = Julie |date = 17 June 2013 |publisher = Museums Association |access-date = 13 June 2014 |archive-date = 16 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190416133538/https://www.museumsassociation.org/museum-practice/wikipedia/17062013-the-new-art-gallery-walsall |url-status = dead }} and the Royal Society of Chemistry.{{cite web |last1=Mabbett |first1=Andy |title=A year as Wikimedian in Residence |url=http://www.rsc.org/news-events/features/2015/sep/wikimedian-in-residence/ |publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry |access-date=14 February 2019 |date=7 September 2015}}

In January 2013, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library became the first presidential library to hire a Wikipedian in residence, when they hired Michael Barera, a master's student at the University of Michigan.{{cite web |last = Kaczmarczyk |first = Jeffrey |title = President Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum appoints its first Wikipedian in residence |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/01/president_gerald_r_ford_librar.html |work = MLive |publisher = Booth Newspapers |access-date = 27 January 2013 |location = Grand Rapids, Michigan |date = 17 January 2013 }} In September 2013, the National Archives and Records Administration became the first organisation to employ a permanent full-time Wikipedian in residence when it hired Dominic McDevitt-Parks to join its Office of Innovation in that capacity.{{cite web |url = http://blogs.archives.gov/aotus/?p=5179 |title = Breaking New Ground Again |date = 19 September 2013 |publisher = National Archives and Records Administration }}

In March 2014, Harvard University posted a job listing seeking applicants to be their Wikipedian in residence at the Houghton Library.{{cite web |url = https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedian_in_Residence |title = Wikipedian in Residence |work = Outreach Wiki |publisher=Wikimedia |access-date = 18 August 2014 }} In October 2014, the University of Victoria Libraries announced that in collaboration with the Electronic Textual Cultures Lab (ETCL) and the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences that Christian Vandendorpe had been named honorary resident Wikipedian in residence for the 2014/2015 academic year.{{cite web |url = http://www.ideas-idees.ca/media/media-releases/honorary-resident-wikipedian-professor-christian-vandendorpe |title = Honorary resident Wikipedian: Professor Christian Vandendorpe – Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences |publisher = Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences |access-date = 28 December 2016 }} Constance Crompton took on the role from 2014 to 2016, followed by Erin Glass from 2019 to 2020 and Silvia Gutiérrez De la Torre from 2020 to 2021.{{Cite web|last=ETCL (Electronic Textual Cultures Lab)|date=2020|title=Honorary Resident Wikipedian|url=https://etcl.uvic.ca/hrw/|access-date=14 December 2020|website=ETCL|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330192951/https://etcl.uvic.ca/hrw/|url-status=dead}}

By 2016, more than 100 Wikipedians had taken part in the role, most of whom were paid by either the institution where they work or a Wikimedia-related organization, and others as volunteers. From July 2018 to June 2019 Mike Dickison was the first "Wikipedian at large", undertaking many short residencies at various institutions throughout the New Zealand, such as Wellington City Archives, the University of Canterbury, and Auckland Museum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.noted.co.nz/tech/nzs-first-wikipedian-at-large-mike-dickison/|title=Mr Wiki: Mike Dickison is NZ's first Wikipedian at large|last=Easther|first=Elizabeth|date=18 September 2018|publisher=Noted|work=North & South|language=en|access-date=19 October 2018|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020053036/https://www.noted.co.nz/tech/nzs-first-wikipedian-at-large-mike-dickison/|url-status=dead}}GLAM New Zealand Wikipedian at large project page, Wikipedia.

One such advertised post has been reported positively by others as being a "unique opportunity to help enrich Wikipedia and its sister projects and share with the world ... resources and knowledge." Conversely, journalist Andrew Orlowski criticized another advertised post as a waste of government funds. In 2013, a part-time temporary position was advertised by the National Library of Scotland and was noted as being "the first large-scale partnership" between a Scottish institution and Wikimedia UK. This initiative was followed by the University of Edinburgh, where a Wikimedian in residence was appointed in December 2015.{{Cite web |url = http://www.studentnewspaper.org/university-of-edinburgh-to-employ-wikimedian-in-residence-web-editor/ |title = University of Edinburgh to employ 'Wikimedian in Residence' web editor |last = Ho |first = Amanda |date = 13 October 2015 |website = The Student |access-date = 7 May 2016 }}

{{Portal|Wikipedia}}

• List of Wikipedia people

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite journal |last=Winter |first=Caroline |title=Wikipedian in Residence Programs |url=https://ospolicyobservatory.uvic.ca/wikipedian-in-residence-programs/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Open Scholarship Policy Observatory |date=2024 |language=en-US |doi=10.25547/MH4A-YR18}}
• Gutiérrez De la Torre, S. E. (2021). Beyond the Wikipedian-in-Residence, or how to keep the flame burning. In L. M. Bridges, R. Pun, & R. A. Arteaga (Eds.), Wikipedia and Academic Libraries: A Global Project. Michigan Publishing. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.11778416.ch12.en
• Leva, F., & Chemello, M. (2018). The effectiveness of a Wikimedian in permanent residence: The BEIC case study. JLIS.It, 9(3), 141–147. [https://doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-12481 https://doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-12481]
• Stinson, A., & Evans, J. (2018). Bringing Wiki (p/m) edians into the Conversation at Libraries. In M. Proffitt (Ed.), Leveraging Wikipedia: Connecting Communities of Knowledge (pp. 31–54). ALA Editions.

{{Commons category|Wikipedians-in-Residence}}

• [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedian_in_residence Wikipedian-in-residence information] from the [https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/GLAM/Get_started GLAM project]
• {{Cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/collection-insights/2017/wikimedian-in-residence|title="Wiki-fying" the Collection: Our First Wikimedian-in-Residence Looks Back on 2017|date=2017-12-28|access-date=2021-05-01|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|last=Knipel|first=Richard}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/06/how-wikipedians-in-residence-are-opening-up-cultural-institutions/240204/|title=How Wikipedians-in-Residence Are Opening Up Cultural Institutions|date=2011-06-16|access-date=2021-05-13|website=The Atlantic|last=Keller|first=Jared}}
• {{cite book |last1=Proffitt |first1=Merrilee |title=Leveraging Wikipedia. Connecting communities of knowledge. |date=2018 |publisher=American Library Association |isbn=9780838916322 |language=en}}
• [http://www.wittylama.com/2010/03/the-british-museum-and-me/ The British Museum and me]

{{Wikipedia}}

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