Wikipedia:GLAM/MGS/1st Month Report

Projects Delivered
The residency started on the 26th January with two days of intensive training with Wikimedia UK, Museums Galleries Scotland and Glasgow Museums. The first month has been spent in training, networking and developing links across the Glasgow Museums team, particularly with curatorial staff. A high level of support for the residency has been shown by Glasgow Museums staff, in particular the Assistant Curators attached to the Kelvin Hall project, whose assistance has been invaluable.

Due to the short nature of this secondment, one priority has been to quickly make connections and identify potential project leads. In the first weeks, a list of prospective projects was drawn up with the assistance of the Kelvin Hall team, upon which we’ve worked collaboratively to identify suitable ways forward. Of these, one shows particular promise, concerned with the Showpeople community in Glasgow, and a meeting with members of the Fair Glasgow Museums Working Group has been set up for late February in order to develop this.

I attended the Scotwiki meetup in Glasgow on 1 Feb, where I had the opportunity to meet with some of local Glasgow volunteers, including one woman who had been reticent about joining Wiki but decided to register following a positive experience at the meetup. I also attended the Open Knowledge Foundation’s Edinburgh Meetup on 28 January.

Staff Training
On 3 February, I made an introductory presentation to the Curatorial Forum about the Residency, and distributed materials about GLAM-Wiki projects. The presentation was received positively and has generated interest in the Residency amongst curatorial staff, both about open knowledge and editing. An introductory email from John Ferry was sent to all Glasgow Museums staff, which has yielded two further promising leads.

Projects in Development
Showpeople of Glasgow

Improving Wikipedia/Wikimedia content surrounding the Showpeople community of Glasgow. First meeting set for late February.

Wikipedia Working Group

Curators’ group at Glasgow Museums, with the aim of ensuring sustainability in the project once the resident has left. First session, incorporating editing training, will take place in late February.

Staff Training

I will be presenting to a wide range of staff about the residency at the Riverside Museum on 6 March.

Other items

 * I am attending the first meeting of Museums Galleries Scotland’s Digital Transformation Network on 20 Feb.
 * A date has been set for a meeting with the Glasgow Museums Photo Library Coordinator & Publishing, Commissioning and Licensing Manager.
 * I have made contact with one curator working on a project around labour history banners in the collection, and another member of staff working with a women’s histories and protest team, concerning potential collaborations.