Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki For Librarians (ID: 22200106)

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Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

Kmensah4545

Organization

N/A

If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)

N/A

Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)

Main Proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Wiki For Librarians

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2023-08-29 - 2023-12-18

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Ghana

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Not applicable

6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)

The Wiki For Librarian project aims to train and empower librarians in the Asante Region of Ghana. As a librarian and a wikipedian, I have identified a gap in the librarian space where many works in the library are not adequately documented. Despite the existence of tools for cataloging and accessibility, we have not been able to achieve the desired goals using those tools. However, by leveraging the power of Wikipedia and its connected projects, we believe we can effectively catalog most of the works found in the libraries.

Our project plan includes a 6-month training program and an edit-a-thon that will engage librarians from various communities. We will begin by introducing the librarians to the Wikimedia community and providing them with the necessary skills to contribute to bridging the knowledge gap.

During the training program, we will cover essential topics such as an introduction to Wikipedia, editing skills, research and citation techniques, collaboration and community engagement, copyright and licensing, and sustainability strategies.

By equipping librarians with these skills and knowledge, we aim to empower them to actively participate in documenting and sharing the works within their libraries. Our goal is to foster a culture of knowledge sharing, improve access to information, and enhance the overall documentation of works in the Asante Region libraries.

With the collaborative nature of Wikipedia and its vast community, we believe that engaging librarians in this project will not only benefit the librarians themselves but also the wider community that relies on these libraries for education and information. We are excited about the potential impact this project can make and are committed to supporting the librarians in their journey to contribute to the knowledge base through Wikipedia and related projects.

By focusing on training and enabling librarians to utilize the Wikimedia platform, we hope to bridge the gap in documentation and enhance the accessibility and cataloging of works in libraries throughout the Asante Region of Ghana.

7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.

The Wiki For Librarians Workshop will involve several activities to support and empower librarians in the Asante Region of Ghana. These activities include:

Partnerships: We aim to establish partnerships with various library institutions and universities that are interested in library activities and willing to participate in this project. Collaborating with these organizations will enhance the impact and reach of our efforts.

Training and Skills Acquisition: Librarians will undergo a comprehensive two-month training program focused on contributing to Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. This intensive meetup will equip them with the necessary skills needed to actively participate in the project and bridge the knowledge gap.

Creating a Community: We will establish a library community dedicated to working on activities related to Wikimedia projects. This community will serve as a support network for librarians, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and ongoing engagement in the project.

Contest: Following the training and edit-a-thon, we will organize a contest to further engage the participants. This contest will provide an opportunity for librarians to showcase their newly acquired skills and contributions. Certificates and gift vouchers will be awarded to participants at the end of the event, recognizing their efforts.

Cataloging: We will conduct intensive training sessions on Wikidata, focusing on cataloging books and other library works. By utilizing the capabilities of Wikidata, librarians can effectively document and organize the resources available in their libraries.

Additional Training and Skills Acquisition: We understand the importance of ensuring that interested librarians receive the necessary training to contribute and close the existing knowledge gap. Thus, we will provide a series of training sessions to accommodate as many librarians as possible, equipping them with the skills required for active participation.

Course Creation: To facilitate the training process, we will create a structured course that outlines the key topics and learning objectives. Additionally, we will develop relevant slides and instructional materials to support the training sessions.

Community Development: One of our goals is to develop and nurture an engaging library community that actively works to bridge the knowledge gap. By fostering a sense of community among librarians, we can encourage continuous growth, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

These activities will form the foundation of the Wiki For Librarians Workshop, allowing librarians in the Asante Region to acquire the skills, knowledge, and community support necessary to contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects and improve the documentation and accessibility of library works.

8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.

1. Kmensah4545 - Project lead, managing and ensuring project goes right

2. Pambelle12 - Communication and social media engagement

3. Joris Darlington Quarshie - He will be in-charge of handling technical activities for the project

9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)

The primary participants for the project are librarians residing in the Asante Region of Ghana. To ensure effective communication and updates regarding project activities, we will engage them through a dedicated WhatsApp community page. This platform will serve as a means to keep the librarians informed about upcoming events, training sessions, edit-a-thons, and other relevant activities within the movement.

10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)

Yes

10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.

https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Code_of_conduct_policy

11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.

To engage communities in the project, we will utilize different social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. These platforms will serve as channels to connect with librarians and other stakeholders, allowing us to share updates, announcements, and foster discussions related to the project.

In addition to social media engagement, we will create a meta-page dedicated to highlighting the activities of the project. This meta-page will serve as a central hub of information, providing an overview of the project's goals, training sessions, edit-a-thons, partnerships, and any other significant developments. The meta-page will act as a reference point for participants and interested individuals to stay updated on the progress and impact of the Wiki For Librarian project.

12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Socioeconomic Status

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Education

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Geographic

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Invest in Skills and Leadership Development

Learning and metrics

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

In this project, there are several key aspects that I hope to learn and achieve regarding librarians in Ghana and their contributions to the Wiki For Librarian project.

Firstly, I aim to understand how librarians in Ghana can effectively contribute to the project. By closely working with them, I want to discover their unique expertise, perspectives, and resources that can enhance the documentation and accessibility of works in libraries. It will be valuable to learn how librarians can leverage their knowledge to bridge the knowledge gap and contribute to the overall goal of the project.

Secondly, I am interested in learning effective strategies for engaging librarians in the project. By providing training and creating a supportive community, I hope to understand what motivates librarians to actively participate and contribute to wikis and Wikimedia projects. This knowledge will help refine engagement approaches and ensure that librarians feel empowered and supported throughout their involvement in the project.

Another important aspect I want to explore is understanding the activities around wikis. By observing librarians' engagement and learning from their experiences, I hope to gain insights into the challenges they may face, as well as the opportunities and best practices they discover. This understanding will inform future initiatives and improvements in supporting librarians' contributions to wikis.

Furthermore, I am keen to assess the impact and change that can be achieved through the project. By documenting the contributions of librarians, tracking the documentation of library works, and assessing the accessibility of information, I hope to understand the tangible outcomes and the extent to which the project addresses the knowledge gap in the Asante Region of Ghana.

Overall, through this project, I aim to deepen my understanding of the role of librarians in contributing to wikis, enhance engagement strategies, improve knowledge sharing, and contribute to the overall goal of improving access to information in Ghanaian libraries. This knowledge gained will not only benefit the current project but can also inform future initiatives and collaborations in the field of librarianship and knowledge sharing.

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	30	We will be looking forward to engage with librarians who will be interested in the project.
Number of editors	30	Participants who will be keen on taking interest during the edit-a-thon after going through the rigourous course and triaining
Number of organizers	3	We are three in the team and we will be putting our skills together to engage and ensure the success of the project

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	50
Wikimedia Commons	50
Wikidata	200
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies

Optional description for content contributions.

During the training for librarians, the focus will be on achieving specific targets for contributions. The intended goals include creating 50 Wikipedia articles, uploading 50 photos to WikiCommons, and creating 200 Wikidata items.

These figures are estimated for the proposed project, and it is expected that the actual contributions will surpass these initial targets as the project progresses. By the end of the project, we anticipate a significant increase in the number of articles, photos, and Wikidata items contributed by the participating librarians.

19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
Main Open Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)

To effectively monitor the progress of the project, we will utilize the outreach dashboard to track key metrics and indicators. The outreach dashboard will serve as a tool for monitoring and evaluating various aspects of the project, including participant engagement, contribution statistics, and overall project performance. By leveraging the outreach dashboard, we will have a clear and organized system for tracking project metrics and ensuring that the project is on track towards its goals.

Financial proposal

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SuEL_IZCkQpxdecJj7QIMNrywoUC4lGteAqrwTWYdMs/edit?usp=sharing

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

56297 GHS

22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.

5000 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

Endorsements and Feedback

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Community members are invited to share meaningful feedback on the proposal and include reasons why they endorse the proposal. Consider the following:

Stating why the proposal is important for the communities involved and why they think the strategies chosen will achieve the results that are expected.
Highlighting any aspects they think are particularly well developed: for instance, the strategies and activities proposed, the levels of community engagement, outreach to underrepresented groups, addressing knowledge gaps, partnerships, the overall budget and learning and evaluation section of the proposal, etc.
Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

Endorse