Wikimedia+Libraries International Convention 2025/Programme/national-library-israel-wikimedia
Libraries as Pillars of Truth: Wikimedia Ukraine’s Role in Combating Disinformation and Preserving Culture During the Russo-Ukrainian War- Orly Simon
Time: 15:15-15:30
Room: Library Lobby
Abstract:
This session will present the National Library of Israel's extensive engagement with various Wikimedia projects, showcasing the integration of free knowledge principles into the library's core activities. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how a national cultural institution can collaborate with global knowledge platforms like Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata to enhance content, promote public access, and lead by example in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector.
Lecture Outline:
1. Introduction: Brief introduction to the National Library of Israel’s mission and its alignment with Wikimedia’s goals. Overview of the collaboration, which began in 2011.
2. Key Contributions and Projects
- a. Wikipedia
- Enrichment of Hebrew Wikipedia with content and reliable sources, including the addition of 80,000 links to the library's digital collections.
- Recognition as the leading institution in the 2020 #1Lib1Ref campaign worldwide.
- Special reference desk integrated into the Hebrew Wikipedia help pages, where librarians assist users in finding information within the library’s collections.
- b. Wikimedia Commons
-Upload of over 168,000 images to Wikimedia Commons, including their incorporation into various articles.
-Community-driven efforts to identify people, places, and events featured in the images.
- c. Wikidata
- Contribution of more than 820,000 records from the National Authority Database, with a unique identifier of the library. This is one of the leading contributions by libraries globally to the Wikidata platform.
- d. Advocacy and Outreach
- Regular monthly public editing workshops since 2011.
- Summer camps for youth (in both Hebrew and Arabic) to edit Wikipedia and learn about Wikimedia projects.
- Advocacy for open knowledge, including collaboration with Wikimedia Israel on a four-day course for GLAM institutions to help them make their collections accessible on Wikimedia platforms.