Upskilling Libraries on Open Knowledge Practices Through Wikimedia Projects

Open access to knowledge is the lifeblood of a society that thrives on innovation, education, and informed decision-making. Librarians play a critical role in this ecosystem, acting as much more than just the custodians of physical books. This project aimed to empower librarians by upskilling them on open knowledge practices through Wikimedia projects. The focus was on three Wikimedia projects – Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, Wikidata, a collaborative database, and Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free-use media; 

Upskilling Librarians in Wikimedia Projects Overview

The project was  delivered through  five series of online and physical sessions:

• First online training /Virtual Launch: This session held April 12th, 2024, 4pm-6pm  introducing participants to the Wikimedia movement, its core values, and its mission, also, ensuring they understand the aims and objectives of the project, and a key note speech by Dr. Nkem on “Open Knowledge” and how librarians came open up knowledge through wikimedia projects. 

• Second online Training (Wikipedia Editing): This session held on April 13th 2024. It was facilitated by Bukola James who provided an overview of the diverse Wikimedia projects, wikipedia core policies, creating wikipedia account and performing edits on wikipedia.

• Third online Training (Wikipedia Editing): This session was facilitated by Ismail Atiba and held on April, 15th 2024. It started from 4pm-6pm. This session. The session covered how to use citation hunt to add references, adding categories to wikipedia articles and finding reliable sources.

• Fourth online Training (Wikidata): This session held April 17th, 2024(4pm-6pm WAT) It was facilitated by Ibekeme Merit who explained the concept of wikidata. She also demonstrated how to create wikidata items and also improve the already existing items.

• Fifth online Training (Wikimedia): This session held April 20th, 2024. It was facilitated by Dr. Omorodion spanning from 4pm through 6pm WAT. He demonstrated how to upload pictures to Wikimedia Commons, the different Creative Common licenses and adding images to Wikipedia articles.

• The physical sessions of the project was held at Abdullahi Mahadi library ( Gombe State University Library), Gombe where librarians across different local governments in Gombe State were trained on how to contribute to open knowledge  through Wikimedia projects. Practical sessions were held.

Reflections: A Journey of Learning and Sharing

This project showed the librarians’ strong desire to play a role in promoting open knowledge.

Project Implementation Team:

Meritkosy (Project Lead): A librarian, an active member of Wikimedia Gombe Network and an open knowledge enthusiast  (Project lead)

 African librarian : She is the director, Human Capacity Development and Training African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) She has been the project lead for AfLIA’s projects with OER Africa, NBA South Africa, Book Aid International and Wikimedia Foundation. In 2022, she won the global award of the Wikimedian of the Year 2022, (Newcomer category). 

Bukky658 : She is a certified Librarian, and open knowledge advocate. Works as the community Coordinator for Code for Africa Wikipedian Alliance, a regional Liasion for Sub-Saharan Africa on the Let’s Connect Team for the Wikimedia Foundation, Special Advisor EduWiki User Group.

Atibrarian: A librarian, the founder and the president of Gombe Wikimedia Network

 Omorodion1: A Nigerian Librarian, LIS educator, Researcher, and Wikimedian.His keen interest in promoting open knowledge and Information Literacy skills has seen him organize and facilitate several Wikimedia trainings at the national and international level.

Learning Resources and more about the project

• Event page on Meta-wiki
• Virtual Launch video
• Open Knowledge presentation
• Introduction to Wikipedia video
• Editing Wikipedia video
• Introduction to Wikidata presentation