Calling all knowledge hunters, fact enthusiasts and curious residents – here’s your chance to become a Wikipedia expert, promote York and become authors for the day.
In a unique free event, the Yorkshire Museums Trust is offering people the chance to help edit the famous online encyclopedia – and also spend the day Wikipediaing Wikipedia.
Pat Hadley is the trust’s Wikipedian-in-Residence. During this free one-day workshop he will be talking about all things Wiki, from how the editors source their information, to the way it is run on a daily basis, to how they keep the website free for all us information seekers.
You’ll learn the art of editing and article writing and find out about key 19th and 20th century figures from York.
It’s part of the trust’s mission to create free access to all of their collections via the GLAMwiki programme (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums working with Wikipedia).
Since October last year Pat Hadley has been working behind the scenes assisting the trust with its mission to create free access to their collections.
One example of his work is to scan in early 20th century photographs of York and its surrounding area by Sydney Harold Smith.
To be a part of history in the (online) making you can you must book onto this free event here.
It takes place at the Hospitium in Museum Gardens from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, March 16.
Training will be provided from experienced Wikipedians on the day but attendees need to bring their own wifi-enabled laptop and charger.
“We hope the edit-a-thon will be an exciting way to share York’s fascinating, but unrecognised figures with the world through Wikipedia. The museum has huge collections and expert curators who will be on hand to help,” said Pat.
“Bring along your enthusiasm, local knowledge or technical skills and we can work together to make sure York is solidly represented on the world’s sixth most popular website.”