Request for Qualifications - Wikipedian-in-Residence for Wikipedia + Libraries: Better Together | OCLC

"OCLC seeks a Wikipedian-in-Residence (WIR) to support the implementation of its Wikipedia + Public Libraries project. This is a 16-month, full-time (40 hr/wk) contract. It is strongly preferred that the WIR work at either our Seattle, Wash., or San Mateo, Calif., office where OCLC Research project staff are located.

The WIR will work with the OCLC Research project team to expand knowledge, skills and confidence among public librarians to use and edit Wikipedia, support library patrons as they do the same, and host library programs that engage local community members with Wikipedia. Additionally, the WIR will help librarians navigate the librarian/Wikipedian culture gap, and connect with local Wikipedians to aid them in their efforts.

The WIR will consult on the creation and adaptation of curricular materials for a multi-week online training program that will recruit up to 500 public librarians from across the U.S. The training program, which will be designed and delivered by WebJunction (the learning program of OCLC Research), will initiate a community of practice around Wikipedia among U.S. public libraries. The WIR will play a key role in developing and nurturing this community.

Other WIR responsibilities include finding speakers for and presenting during live online training sessions, answering questions and providing additional guidance –including other connections Wikipedians-- to participating libraries, helping to measure impact of libraries’ increased engagement with Wikipedia, and developing case studies from among a sample of participating libraries.

Other duties include recruiting volunteer Wikipedians to support library participants during training (including making introductions to the TeaHouse) or during implementation of local community engagement activities, and making connections with existing model engagement projects, such as #1lib1ref, AfroCrowd, Art+Feminism, Women in Red, etc. The WIR may also be asked to visit selected libraries to provide on-site guidance and make observations as they conduct local Wikipedia-related programming."