Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Program

Revision as of 01:35, 16 August 2022

Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Program Australia

The Wikimedian in Residence (WiR) and the Wikimedia Visiting Scholars programs have been running internationally and in Australia since 2010. They were developed to support contributions and enhance access to quality research sources, expert knowledge and technical innovations through partnerships with universities, libraries, museums and other public institutions.

Residencies vary from institution to institution. A Wikimedian in Residence can work with staff, volunteers, students and the wider community to train in the Wikimedia projects, advocate for free sharing of knowledge, or help an organisation to share their collections openly.

The aim of these programs is to engage organisations to host editors, content creators, or community engagement professionals to work on Wikimedia related projects for a period of time - either in paid or voluntary positions.

Examples of Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Programs

At Kansas City Public Library in 2021, Miranda Pratt became the first Wikipedian-In-Residence appointed by a US public library. They held regular editathons for library patrons to edit Wikipedia pages on subjects of their choosing.
The University of Edinburgh was the first university in the UK to employ a university-wide Wikimedian in Residence in 2019. The WiR assisted in embedding Wikimedia projects into courses, including a project for students to translate Wikipedia articles into different languages.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art teamed with their WiR to put 375,000 images into the public-domain so they could be used on Wikimedia Commons in 2017. They hosted editathons to put the images on relevant Wikipedia pages.
Dr Martin Poulter held transcribe-a-thons for his WIR at Oxford University libraries in 2016, where volunteers transcribed text from the libraries archives onto Wikisource, like this poem from Byron.

Read more examples about different Wikimedia residencies from around the world here.

Current Wikimedia Australia Residencies

Wikimedia Australia have two residencies in 2022.

Amanda Lawrence is at ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S). Read more about their work here.

James Gaunt is at Australian Music Vault July-September 2022. Read more about their work here.

Past Residencies

Wikimedia Australia’s past residencies have worked with the State Library of New South Wales, State Library of Queensland, Australian Paralympic Committee, and Museum of Perth.

Want to apply for a Wikimedia Resident or Scholar Programs?

We've put together everything you need to know to be part of these programs here. After reading that page, If you’re interested in hosting a WiR/Scholar, or interested in becoming one, please contact: contact@wikimedia.org.au

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 == Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Program Australia ==
+The Wikimedian in Residence (WiR) and the Wikimedia Visiting Scholars programs have been running internationally and in Australia since 2010. They were developed to support contributions and enhance access to quality research sources, expert knowledge and technical innovations through partnerships with universities, libraries, museums and other public institutions.
-The Wikimedia community has developed a number of programs to support contributions across a range of areas and enhance access to quality research sources, expert knowledge and technical innovations through partnerships with universities, libraries, museums and other public institutions. Key initiatives that support these activities are the Wikimedian in Residence (WiR) and the Wikimedia Visiting Scholars programs which have been running internationally and in Australia since 2010.
+Residencies vary from institution to institution. A Wikimedian in Residence can work with staff, volunteers, students and the wider community to train in the Wikimedia projects, advocate for free sharing of knowledge, or help an organisation to share their collections openly.
-The aim of a Wikimedian in residence or a visiting scholar/researcher program is to engage organisations to host editors, content creators or community engagement professionals to work on Wikimedia related projects for a period of time - either in paid or voluntary positions.
+The aim of these programs is to engage organisations to host editors, content creators, or community engagement professionals to work on Wikimedia related projects for a period of time - either in paid or voluntary positions.
-'''Wikimedian in Residence (WiR)''' is the most well-established and flexible model for organisations to support Wikimedia activities. WiRs may be hosted by a range of institutions such as universities, research organisations, museums and libraries, may work on any Wikimedia platform, and undertake a variety of roles. Examples include writing and editing Wikipedia articles, managing dataset uploads on Wikidata, image and non-text media uploads on Wiki Commons, collecting audience engagement metrics or running edit-a-thons. WiRs are usually in paid positions for a set period of time supported by their host organisation often employed or contracted in research analyst, associate or communications positions.
+=== Examples of Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Programs ===
-https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedian_in_residence
-'''Wikimedia Visiting Scholars''' are usually hosted by a university or library which  provides access to institutional collections to support Wikipedia editors or other Wikimedia contributions to develop or enhance content. Scholars are generally unpaid positions but may receive an honorarium. These positions provide expert editors with access to both knowledge resources and a community of experts.
+* At Kansas City Public Library in 2021, [https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2021-08-05/kansas-city-public-library-hires-a-dedicated-wikipedian-in-residence Miranda Pratt became the first Wikipedian-In-Residence appointed by a US public library]. They held regular editathons for library patrons to edit Wikipedia pages on subjects of their choosing.
+* The University of Edinburgh was the [https://thinking.is.ed.ac.uk/wir/tag/university-of-edinburgh first university in the UK to employ a university-wide Wikimedian in Residence] in 2019. The WiR assisted in embedding Wikimedia projects into courses, including a project for students to translate Wikipedia articles into different languages.
+* The Metropolitan Museum of Art teamed with their WiR to put [https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/collection-insights/2017/wikimedian-in-residence 375,000 images into the public-domain] so they could be used on Wikimedia Commons in 2017. They hosted editathons to put the images on relevant Wikipedia pages.
+* Dr Martin Poulter [[w:Wikipedia:GLAM/Bodleian/Final_report|held transcribe-a-thons]] for his WIR at [[w:Wikipedia:GLAM/Bodleian|Oxford University libraries]] in 2016, where volunteers transcribed text from the libraries archives onto Wikisource, like [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rainbow_(Byron) this poem from Byron].
-=== Guidelines ===
+Read more examples about different Wikimedia residencies from around the world [https://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedian_in_Residence here].
-==== Support ====
+=== Current Wikimedia Australia Residencies ===
+Wikimedia Australia have two residencies in 2022.
-The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) and Wikimedia Australia (WMAU) support institutional partnerships where organisations engage in sharing information, comply with the community rules, participate in social discourse, and support Wikimedia’s mission and values. In all cases it is important that the host institution engages with the Wikimedian and that the purpose is to develop impartial knowledge resources of value to the wider community as well as the institution.
+'''Amanda Lawrence''' is at ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S). Read more about their work [[ADM+S Wikimedian-in-Residence Program|here]].
-Extensive support and information is also available online on how to edit and participate in Wikimedia platforms and the Wikimedia Australia committee and community will provide ongoing support and advice to the host organisation and the WiR/Scholar over the course of the residency as far as practicable. Depending on the nature of the role mentorships may be able to be provided by expert community members.
-WiRs/Scholar roles may be initiated by individuals, groups or institutions and do not need to be approved by WMAU or the WMF however we recommend consulting with the WMAU committee and posting details on WMAU and WMF websites to promote the program and enhance engagement and community support.
-==== Duration ====
+'''James Gaunt''' is at Australian Music Vault July-September 2022. Read more about their work [[New Wikimedian in Residence explores Australian music content|here]].
-Most residencies and scholar roles are for at least 3 months and may go for 12 months or longer. A regular weekly time commitment is required and WiRs or Scholars may be engaged on a full-time or part-time basis. At least 1 day per week is recommended for WiRs while scholar roles may be more ad hoc.
+=== Past Residencies ===
+Wikimedia Australia’s past residencies have worked with the [[w:Wikipedia:GLAM/State_Library_of_New_South_Wales|State Library of New South Wales]], [[w:Wikipedia:GLAM/State_Library_of_Queensland/First_World_War_Wikipedian_in_Residence|State Library of Queensland]], [https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/The_History_of_the_Paralympic_Movement_in_Australia Australian Paralympic Committee], and [[w:Wikipedia:GLAM/Museum_of_Perth|Museum of Perth]].
-==== Establishing a WiR/Scholar at your organisation ====
+=== Want to apply for a Wikimedia Resident or Scholar Programs? ===
+We've put together everything you need to know to be part of these programs [[Applying For Wikimedia Resident and Scholar Programs|here]]. After reading that page, If you’re interested in hosting a WiR/Scholar, or interested in becoming one, please contact: contact@wikimedia.org.au
-* Identify the goals for the resident/scholar
-* Confirm the format: duration, hours per week etc.
-* Secure funds and permissions for access to resources
-* Contact WMAU for advice and promotion
-* Recruit a resident/scholar
-* Undertake and support the activities of the residency program across the organisation and with the Wikimedia Australia community
-* Monitor and receive progress reports and final report as required.
-==== Institution responsibilities ====
-* Designate a key contact person for the role to help the WiR/Scholar get connected and familiar with the organisation’s staff, research interests and resources.
-* Create a plan for the WiR role, focus and success criteria with scope for adapting as the residency develops.
-* Designate a workspace and computing equipment if required.
-* Support some level of institutional and broader engagement activities
-* Understand what is acceptable and not acceptable within Conflict of Interest policies, and other related on-wiki policies.
-==== Who can be a WiR/Scholar? ====
-WiRs/Scholars may be experienced contributors to Wikimedia platforms or inexperienced but with other relevant skills valuable for the host organisation. Several characteristics make especially effective Wikimedians in Residence:
-* Experience or a demonstrated willingness to learn how to work with digital or online communities or with volunteer organising.
-* Experience communicating with different kinds of audiences.
-* Ability to learn and teach technical skills and community dynamics.
-* Experience working with professionals from the kinds of professional communities at or supported by the institution.
-* Comfort and experience doing writing and research.
-* Comfort with technology, and contributing to social media and online platforms.
-==== Funding ====
-WiRs/Scholars may be paid or unpaid positions depending on the program adopted with funds provided by the host institution. External funding may be available from Wikimedia Australia in the form of a grant or co-funding depending on the nature of the project and available funds. Financial support for public events and edit-a-thons may also be provided.
-==== Conflict of interest ====
-Wikipedia has a “policy with legal implications” on disclosure of paid contributions and a conflict of interest behavioral guideline. However well-established program procedures are in place for identifying a WiR and guidelines on ensuring compliance with WMF rules.
-=== More information: ===
-* [https://wikimedia.org.au Wikimedia Australia Wikimedia in Residence page on Meta wiki]
-* [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedians_in_Residence_Exchange_Network Wikimedians in Residence Exchange Network]
-* [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedian_in_residence/Creating_a_Wikimedian_in_Residence_position Creating a Wikimedian in Residence position practical how-to guide]
-* [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedian_in_residence#Full_list_of_past_and_present_WiRs Full list of Wikimedians in residence]
-* Wikipedia page on Visiting Scholars: How to become a Visiting Scholar
-* [http://wikiedu.org/visitingscholars Wikimedia Education Foundation Visiting Scholars Program (US based program)]