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Wikipedian in residence

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Wikipedian-in-Residence Scope Diagram Page 1.png|thumb|The relationship between a Wikipedian in residence and the community. The diagram represents the stakeholders and what each stakeholder provides and receives in a typical Wikipedian in Residence project.]]

A '''Wikipedian in residence''' or '''Wikimedian in residence''' ('''WiR''') is a [[Wikipedia]] editor, a [[Wikipedian]] (or Wikimedian), who accepts a placement with an institution, typically an art gallery, library, archive or museum ([[GLAM (industry sector)|GLAM]]), [[learned society]], or institute of higher education (such as a university) to facilitate [[Wikipedia editing|Wikipedia entries]] related to that institution's mission, encourage and assist it to release material under open licences, and to develop the relationship between the institution and the Wikimedia community. A Wikipedian in residence generally helps to coordinate Wikipedia-related outreach events between the GLAM and the general public.

Institutions that have hosted a Wikipedian in residence include large institutions like the [[National Library of Wales]], [[British Museum]], the [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]], the [[British Library]], the [[University of Toronto]], the [[National Library of Norway]], and the [[Federal Archives of Switzerland]] and smaller venues like the [[Derby Museum and Art Gallery]] and [[The New Art Gallery Walsall]] in the UK; the [[Palace of Versailles]] in France; the [[Museu Picasso]] in Spain; and in the US, the [[Smithsonian Institution]], the [[Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library]], and the [[National Archives and Records Administration]].

== Developing interest ==

In 2010, Australian Liam Wyatt became the first Wikipedian in residence when he volunteered at the [[British Museum]] for a period of five weeks.<ref name="Cohen group">{{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]] |accessdate = 27 January 2013 |date = 5 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate = 24 March 2014 |last = Cohen |first = Noam }}</ref> He noted the need for Wikipedia to strengthen partnerships with museums to create the most up-to-date and accurate information,<ref name=Inside>{{cite web |title = Museum Hires First Wikipedian-in-Residence |url = http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=49490#middle |work = Inside Indiana Business |accessdate = 27 January 2013 |location = Indianapolis, Indiana |date = 19 August 2011 }}</ref> 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,<ref name=Inside /> becoming the second Wikipedian in residence. The third, Benoît Evellin, spent six months at the [[Palace of Versailles]].<ref>[[Wikipedia:GLAM/Château de Versailles|GLAM Château de Versailles Project page]]</ref> The [[Museu Picasso]] in Barcelona, Spain, and the [[Derby Museum and Art Gallery]] in the United Kingdom were also early adopters of the idea.<ref>[[Wikipedia:GLAM/Museu Picasso|GLAM Museu Picasso Project page]]</ref><ref>[[Wikipedia:GLAM/Derby|GLAM Derby Project page]]</ref>

In 2010, the [[Smithsonian Institution]] expressed interest in the idea, which led to the hiring of Sarah Stierch in July as Wikipedian in Residence.<ref name=Cohen2>{{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]] |accessdate = 27 January 2013 |date = 12 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate = 27 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{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 |accessdate = 27 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> The following year, the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] followed suit and hired Dominic McDevitt-Parks, a student from [[Simmons College (Massachusetts)|Simmons College]], who was pursuing a [[master's degree]] in history and archives management, to work at its Archives II location.<ref>{{Cite news |work = [[The Baltimore Sun]] |first = Julie |last = Baughman |title = National Archives hires 'Wikipedian in residence' |date = 13 July 2011 |url = http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-07-13/news/bs-md-wikipedia-archives-20110621_1_national-archives-wikipedian-archives-information |accessdate = 26 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name=Washington>{{Cite news |work = [[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 |accessdate = 26 April 2013 }}</ref> McDevitt-Parks had been editing Wikipedia since 2004 and was hired for this position by [[David Ferriero]].<ref name=Washington/><ref>{{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 |accessdate = 26 April 2013 }}</ref>

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 [[m:ARKive project|ARKive project]].<ref name="Bristol24-7">{{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 encylopaedia |last = Zaba |first = Christina |date = 16 September 2011 |work = Bristol24-7 |accessdate = 13 June 2014 }}</ref> Since then Mabbett has been a Wikipedian in residence at other organisations such as [[the New Art Gallery Walsall]].<ref name="Museums Association">{{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 |accessdate = 13 June 2014 }}</ref>

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]].<ref name=Kaczmarczyk>{{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 |accessdate = 27 January 2013 |location = Grand Rapids, Michigan |date = 17 January 2013 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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]] }}</ref>
[[File:20151009 145940 HDR.jpg|thumb|Dominic McDevitt-Parks speaking at WikiConference USA 2015 hosted at the [[National Archives Building]]]]

In March 2014, [[Harvard University]] posted a job listing seeking applicants to be their Wikipedian in residence at the [[Houghton Library]].<ref name="Outreach">{{cite web |url = https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedian_in_Residence |title = Wikipedian in Residence |work = Outreach Wiki |accessdate = 18 August 2014 }}</ref>

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 [[:fr:Christian Vandendorpe|Christian Vandendorpe]] had been named Honorary Resident Wikipedian-in-Residence for the 2014/2015 academic year.<ref>{{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 = |accessdate = 28 December 2016 }}</ref>

By 2016, more than 100 Wikipedians had taken part in the role,<ref name="Outreach" /> most of whom were paid by either the institution where they work or a Wikimedia-related organization.

== Role and duties ==

The primary role of the Wikipedian-in-Residence is 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 duties include arranging and/or leading training events and [[editathon|editathons;]]<ref name="theregister orlowski 20120216">{{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 |accessdate = 19 June 2013 |last = Orlowski |first = Andrew |authorlink = Andrew Orlowski }}</ref><ref name="bbc 20130424">{{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 |accessdate = 19 June 2013 }}</ref> providing explanations to other staff and members of the public about policies and practice, such as policies about conflict-of-interest; as well as making contributions to articles relevant to the institution's materials and mission, such as articles about significant cultural objects in an organisation's collection.<ref name="bristolwireless woods 20130418">{{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 |accessdate = 19 June 2013 |last = Woods |first = Steve }}</ref>

== Compensation ==
While Wikipedia discourages direct paid compensation for article editing and prohibits undisclosed advocacy, Wikipedians in residence are [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest#Wikipedians in residence|permitted to be compensated for work on-wiki]], 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.

== Reception ==

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."<ref name="bristolwireless woods 20130418" /> Conversely, journalist [[Andrew Orlowski]] criticized another advertised post as a waste of government funds.<ref name="theregister orlowski 20120216" /> In 2013, a part-time temporary position was advertised by [[National Library of Scotland]] and was noted as being "the first large-scale partnership" between a Scottish institution and [[Wikimedia UK]].<ref name="bbc 20130424" /> This initiative was followed by [[University of Edinburgh]] where a Wikimedian in residence was appointed in December 2015.<ref>{{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 Newspaper |access-date = 7 May 2016 }}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Wikipedians-in-Residence}}
* {{Outreachwiki|Wikipedian in Residence}}
* [http://www.wittylama.com/2010/03/the-british-museum-and-me/ The British Museum and me]

{{Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Archivists]]
[[Category:Museum occupations]]
[[Category:Library occupations]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]
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