Grants:TPS/Hlong-lib/US OpenGLAM Launch Weekend, Open Knowledge Foundation/Report

Event name: U.S. OpenGLAM Launch Weekend, Open Knowledge Foundation

Description of your participation: The U.S. OpenGLAM Launch Weekend took place in Berkeley, CA over the weekend of March 22-23. Approximately twenty GLAM professionals came together to exchange ideas for increasing contributions to open knowledge as well as discuss topics like advocacy within one’s institution, open licenses, and linked data. I gave a lightning presentation on Primary Source Corps, a gamification project intended to encourage students and others to contribute primary source material from digital library collections to Wikisource. The presentation dovetailed with two early talks on Wikipedia given by Merrilee Proffitt and Sarah Stierch and also continued a discussion thread among participants about what sources are appropriate to site in Wikipedia articles. I also worked with Ed Rodley, Marc Weber, and Rachel Wright to produce a "one-pager" on "quick open access wins using few resources." The resulting brochure outlines reasons why a GLAM institution benefits from participation in the open knowledge movement and lists several quick and easy ways that an interested individual can contribute. This document will be published as a part of an open knowledge toolkit that the larger group envisioned as one of the event’s outcomes.

What lessons were learned that could help others in similar events? This event was certainly one of the most inspiring and invigorating professional meetings that I have attended. I came away with several concrete ideas for making my library’s digital collections more open and also made some terrific professional contacts. If I had any advice for others who are planning to attend a similar event, it would be to plan their travel carefully. I attempted to fly in/out too close to the event itself and ran into weather delays. I didn’t miss any of the meeting, but was not as well rested as I would have liked.

What impact did your participation have on the Wikimedia Mission goals of Increased Reach, Increased Quality, Increased Credibility, Increased and Diversified Participation? As a result of the U.S. OpenGLAM weekend, I am exploring several ways that I can make my library’s digital collections more open and further Wikipedia’s mission. I will work with volunteers and my local Wikipedia community to create articles related to content from our digital collections. I will also investigate the possibility of contributing appropriate content to Wikimedia Commons and advocate for the adoption of Creative Commons licenses.

Detail of expenditures: Airfare from Denver to San Francisco 400.00 (total = 414.80)

Hotel, 2 nights 149.00

Ground transportation to/from meeting 68.30

Food (for meals not provided by meeting) 20.20 (total = 24.76)

Total request $637.50 USD

Amount underspent/left-over (please specify currency):