Wikimedia+Libraries International Convention 2025/Programme/wikibibliotecas-brazil
WikiBibliotecas: introduction to wikimedia projects for Brazilian information professionals- Marcus Vinícius Pereira da Silva
- Lilian Viana
Time: 14:45-15:00
Room: 2246
Abstract:
This session will present a case study on the course "Wikibibliotecas: Introduction to Wiki Projects for Information Professionals," an initiative promoted by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a Brazilian public health research institution linked to the Ministry of Health. The course, organized by Marcus Vinícius Pereira da Silva and Lilian Viana, aimed to train professionals working in libraries and other cultural and memory institutions across Brazil to develop actions involving Wikimedia projects, particularly Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. The course is particularly relevant in the context of combating disinformation, as it equips information professionals with the skills to contribute to knowledge platforms that are underpinned by transparent, collaborative, and verifiable practices. However, despite the strategic potential of Wikimedia projects in the Brazilian context, libraries, archives and museums in the country have been slow to implement them, a situation exacerbated by historical resource shortages. Participants in this session will learn about the course's impact, including the demographics of the 179 registered and 25 students selected. The session will underscore the importance of training information professionals to adopt Wikimedia tools and the potential for this to strengthen information access and reliability. Participants will learn about the potential for similar training programs to be implemented in their institutions, increasing their capacity to collaborate in knowledge-sharing initiatives that promote reliable and culturally diverse information.
