Activity Report for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012–13
This report describes the activities of Wikimedia District of Columbia from April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013.
Flagship events
GLAM Boot Camp
GLAM Boot Camp is a 3-day training workshop for Wikipedians interested in gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to assist with GLAM-Wiki projects. It is being organized jointly by Wikimedia DC and the National Archives, and will be held at the National Archives in Washington D.C. on April 26–28. Sessions will be led by Wikipedians experienced in working with cultural institutions on past partnerships. The purpose of GLAM Boot Camp is to enlarge the pool of Wikipedians working on GLAM projects by bringing into the fold Wikipedians who are interested but not yet involved.
David Ferriero speaks to GLAM Boot Camp attendees
Attendees at National Archive
David Ferriero talking to attendees
Attendees at National Gallery
Ongoing programs
Academic and educational outreach
All Things GW Edit-a-Thon
The All Things GW Editathon is a rare chance to go behind the scenes in the University Archives of the GW Libraries and use their unique resources to research and update Wikipedia pages related to The George Washington University and the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. This event includes: a behind-the-scenes tour of the University Archives and a show and tell of some of its most interesting treasures, snacks, and the edit-a-thon.
The edit-a-thon will concentrate on any topics relating to GW that you wish to explore. University history? Presidents and administrators? Notable alumni? Athletics? The Mount Vernon Seminary and College? All ideas are welcome! We'll also look for articles to improve relating to the Foggy Bottom neighborhood that GW calls home, and will explore uploading out of copyright material to Wikimedia Commons.
Bergis Jules, University Archivist, and Jennifer Kinniff, Public Services and Outreach Librarian for Special Collections, will lead a behind the scenes tour and will share some of the University Archives' most beloved items.
National Library of Medicine Edit-a-Thon
On Tuesday, 28 May, and Thursday, 30 May, 2013, there were community Wikipedia meetings at the United States National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. Attendees participated both in-person and via an online webinar.
Attendees on a tour of the Historical Society archives
Cultural outreach
Field Notes Edit-a-Thon
The Field Book Project, a joint effort of the National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Archives, welcomes participants to an edit-a-thon on the scientific field diaries held at the Smithsonian. Activities include new editor orientation and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Smithsonian’s Russell E. Train Africana Collection. Participants will also be invited to preview and test transcribe field book materials using the Smithsonian’s new digital Transcription Center. Coffee and lunch generously provided courtesy of Wikimedia DC.
This past Friday, we held our 3rd Wikipedia edit-a-thon on the scientific field books in the Smithsonian Institution Archives’ collections (field books are primary source documents that describe the events leading up to and including the collection of specimens or observations during field research). All told, we had 18 volunteers who donated their entire Friday to work on articles related to explorers and expeditions held in our collections. Amongst the 18 were a husband/wife team, and a father-daughter team.
Participants gathered over coffee in the morning to hear more about the Archives and the Field Book project, a partnership between the Archives and the National Museum of Natural History which seeks to create a single online location for scientific field books. The talk was followed by a tour of the Russell E. Train Africana Collection, a special collection housed in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries which contains several thousand manuscripts, photographs, original artwork and prints, posters, maps, ephemera, and man-made and natural artifacts relating to exploration, big game hunting, wildlife, and travel in Africa dating from 1663 to the late 1990s. The tour provided rich context for one of the articles on our to-do list, the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition.
Attendees on a tour of the Historical Society archives
Government outreach and engagement
Furloughed Feds Workshop
The Furloughed Feds Workshop is a Wikipedia training seminar and edit-a-thon for federal employees interested in learning more on how to edit Wikipedia. Get hands-on training from local Wikipedians and learn how to contribute your slice of knowledge to the world's largest encyclopedia!
MLK Library — Saturday, May 4
Legislative Data Meetup
The Legislative Data Meetup is a meetup for WikiProject United States Federal Government Legislative Data participants in the D.C. area to discuss efforts to increase information about the United States government on Wikipedia. The meetup will focus on what has been accomplished so far and what still needs to be done. All are welcome!
Cato Institute — Saturday, June 8
Attendees at the Furloughed Feds Workshop
Public outreach and education
WikiSalons
The WikiSalon is a special meetup usually held during the first and third full weeks of every month, from 7 PM to 9 PM. It's an informal gathering of Wikimedia enthusiasts, who come together to discuss Wikimedia wikis and collaboratively edit. There's no set agenda, and guests are welcome to recommend articles for the group to edit or edit on their own. Where is it? The WikiSalon is held at the Wikimedia DC office
Great American Wiknic
Join Wikimedia District of Columbia for our third annual Great American Wiknic in Washington, D.C.! This year's picnic will take place at the James Buchanan Memorial in Meridian Hill Park on Sunday, June 30 from 1 PM to 5 PM.
The Wiknic is a potluck; bring food and beverages to share and make this the wiki picnic you can edit. Everyone, young and old, veteran and newcomer, is welcome. Learn more about the Wiknic and sign up below.
Other meetups
Attendees at the inaugural WikiSalon on April 19
Attendees discussing Wikipedia and free culture at a WikiSalon
Attendees at a dinner meetup
