Improving Visibility of Authors and Books in Libraries using Wikidata/Event's outcome

The event, held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Main Library, (known as Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library) was the first of its kind aimed at exposing librarians to current trends in open source, specifically utilizing Wikidata as a tool to enhance the visibility of library collections. By the end of the event, a total of 54 items were created,and 1.08k Wikidata revisions. The participants were thrilled to learn how librarians could contribute their expertise to Wikidata.

Amongst those in attendance at the event were prominent individuals such as Prof. Stella Anasi, the University Librarian. Additionally, key personnel from various departments were present, including Joy Onwumbiko, the Head of Cataloguing Department, Dr. Hope Chikaodi, the Head of Circulation Department, and Mrs. Kelechi Okafor from the Circulation Unit. Other notable participants included Ndanwu Angela, the Head of Serials Department, as well as existing and dedicated members of the hub, namely Ikekanmma Nnamdi, Ubah Chisom, Jennifer, Korie, Nwosu Favour, Adimora Miracle, and many more. Their presence contributed to the success and engagement of the event.

During the training, several questions arose, including:

1. How can more collections be added at a time?

Response:To add more collections, librarians can utilize the OpenRefine software, which allows for the addition of collections in bulk. OpenRefine provides a streamlined approach to import and integrate new data into Wikidata efficiently.

2. Is it possible to add scholarly articles?

Response: Yes, it is indeed possible to add scholarly articles to Wikidata. Librarians can create articles individually by entering the relevant information manually. Alternatively, articles can be uploaded in batches using unique identifiers such as DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or PMID (PubMed Identifier) to ensure accurate linking and attribution.

3. Can values be entered in Igbo, considering it's an Igbo language visibility event?

Response: During the event, participants were shown how the Wikidata interface can be switched to Igbo language, catering to the focus on Igbo language visibility. While attempting to enter values in Igbo, such as "sex" or "gender" as "nwanyi" (meaning "female" in Igbo), it was observed that the value appeared in Igbo initially. However, upon selection, it switched back to the default English term "female." This demonstration highlighted that Wikidata can be edited in Igbo language once the interface, properties, and corresponding values have been appropriately translated.

This emphasizes the potential for expanding the multilingual capabilities of Wikidata and enabling the representation of information in diverse languages, including Igbo. Efforts to translate the interface, properties, and values into Igbo would contribute to a more inclusive and comprehensive representation of knowledge on Wikidata, aligning with the objectives of the Igbo language visibility event.

4. An author is from Alor, and Alor is not on Wikidata as an item. What can we do?

Response: If Alor is not currently listed as an item on Wikidata, there are steps you can take to add it and ensure proper representation. Here's what you can do:

Create a new item: Begin by creating a new item for Alor on Wikidata. You can do this by clicking on the "Create a new item" option on the Wikidata website.
Provide relevant information: Fill in the necessary details about Alor, such as its instance of, location, description, notable features, and any other pertinent information you have. Adding accurate and comprehensive information will help establish a robust entry for Alor on Wikidata.
Add appropriate identifiers: If there are unique identifiers associated with Alor, such as its official code or other recognized identifiers, include them in the item. This will help establish connections with other relevant data sources.
Include reliable sources: To ensure the credibility of the information provided, include reliable sources that support the details about Alor. This could be scholarly articles, books, official records, or any other reputable sources.
Add images: Make sure images are uploaded to Wikimedia Commons before it can be used on Wikidata
Add Coordinates: Locate the coordinates, determine the precise latitude and longitude coordinates for the location of Alor. Various tools and methods to obtain accurate coordinates can be used, such as GPS devices, online mapping services, or geocoding services, Input the latitude and longitude values obtained for Alor in the designated fields, and publish to save changes

During the training, several questions arose, including:

Images