Wikimedia and Libraries User Group/Mission and goals

Wikimedia and Libraries User Group

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The Wikimedia and Libraries User Group (WLUG) brings together Wikipedians, librarians and information professionals who engage Wikipedia and related projects within library communities, including academic, public, special and private libraries worldwide. Sharing resources and best practices is a key motivation for the user group. Our core convictions are

• Wikipedians and librarians are natural allies in fostering information literacy
• Wikipedians depend on libraries for references and librarians for reference expertise
• Librarians should recognize Wikipedia as an imperfect but reliable source of knowledge

This user group provides an open forum for conversation and coordinated action between Wikipedia community members and librarians and information professionals.

Mission

This group is a place to meet other community leaders who work with libraries, form partnerships with allies, host events at institutions, conduct outreach to national organizations or regional and international groups and consortia. It is open to all levels of interest. A special focus will be finding ways to direct the momentum in the library world as it increasingly opens its doors (and resources) to Wikipedia into a concrete and active user group. Participants are encouraged to get involved in their community, join the international efforts, and take their projects from brainstorming through to impact.

New Mission Statement (in Draft)

The Wikimedia and Libraries User Group aspires

• to meet other community leaders who work with libraries,
• to form partnerships with allies,
• to host events at institutions,
• to conduct outreach to national organizations or regional and international groups and consortia.

The Wikimedia and Libraries User Group is open to all levels of interest. A special focus will be finding ways to direct the momentum in the library world as it increasingly opens its doors (and resources) to Wikipedia into a concrete and active user group. Participants are encouraged to get involved in their community, join the international efforts, and take their projects from brainstorming through to impact.

Goals

• Guidance - providing guidance for Wikimedians engaging with libraries, and libraries engaging with Wikimedia
• Rendezvous - providing a venue for the exchange of ideas around collaborations and opportunities for Wikimedia and libraries
• Advocacy - working with libraries and library information schools promoting the use of Wikipedia in their curriculum
• Outreach - reaching out to libraries that could potentially engage with Wikimedia

Who can benefit?

Although the group is formed predominately by Wikipedians and librarians, anyone is welcome to join.

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