Wikipedia:GLAM/NLS/Events/NLS Forgotten Faces Absent Places Staff Edit-a-thon

What is it?
This edit-a-thon is aimed at allowing staff from any team in the National Library of Scotland the opportunity to add their knowledge to the world's largest online encyclopaedia! As large as Wikipedia may be, there are still thousands of articles that could be improved using the resources at the NLS. Since it's the Library staff who know the collections best, we want to encourage you to share that knowledge with the world.

Take a few minutes to search Wikipedia for articles about individuals, places, groups, or events about which you have expertise or which you have spent time researching. Chances are you will find at least a couple of articles that are stubs, or don't use many sources, or aren't particularly helpful, or maybe don't even exist! If you find these pages (or if you don't find them), we hope that you will join us on 18 October to help right that particular wrong by improving or even creating those articles.

We'll be able to access the Library's digitised and licensed digital collections, and you are welcome to use any additional research that you may have done for a previous project! If you've ever been annoyed that so-and-so doesn't have an article, or only has a few lines, this is for you!

Schedule
The event will begin at 12:30 in 4.04 Lawnmarket. There will be a 90 minute training session to introduce new contributors to Wikipedia editing, so if you don't know how, don't worry! You are still very welcome. We will make sure that you learn not only how to contribute, but that you're also introduced to some of the guidelines which keep Wikipedia a well-oiled and high-quality online resource. If you have already been trained, you might want to join us later in the afternoon at 14:30, but there's no guarantee that the best food won't have been eaten by then!

Yes, there will be food: plenty of food. It's bonfire night, so bring your grumbling stomachs and your party spirit along with your laptops!

After the training session there will be a 30 minute break before the edit-a-thon proper starts at 14:30. You will have until 17.00 to contribute to the article of your choice, with experienced Wikimedians and the NLS's Wikimedian in Residence there to offer help and advice!

In just a couple of hours you can improve an article dramatically, sharing information with hundreds of thousands of people around the world!

In advance
To ensure that you are easily able to start editing on the day, we ask that all participants create a Wikipedia account in advance. This is a very simple process, and you are free to be as anonymous as you like or not!

You may find it useful to have a look at the information booklet that has been written specifically to introduce NLS staff to Wikimedia, but this is entirely optional.

It would also be advisable to take a few minutes to select the article that you intend to edit, and any sources that you might use. You will have access to all of the Library's licensed digital collections as well as the digital gallery, but please do get in touch if there are sources you might desperately need that can't be accessed online.

Sign up
First come, first served! Registration for this event is mandatory to ensure we have equipment (and food!) for all. If you like, you can register as a participant by adding your username and a link to the page you intend to edit in the 'Participants' section below. If you do not want to list your name publicly, please [mailto:a.crockford@nls.uk contact me privately].

Please make sure that we can contact you if needs be - enable "email user" in your user settings if you are logged in. Please also indicate the topics you are interested in or the title of the article which you intend to edit, and whether or not you require a laptop or have any dietary restrictions.

On the day
Please arrive at the boardroom approximately 5-10 minutes before training is scheduled to start. If you have already been trained or know how to edit, then you are free to join us at 13:30 for tea and coffee before the edit-a-thon instead.

Remember to bring your own laptop so you can do some editing! There will be a limited number of laptops available, but it would be preferable if you could bring your own.

Also don't forget to bring any research or resources you might want to draw on - if it's not on the X drive, you may wish to bring a USB stick.

Participants
Once you have created an account, please add your name to the list of attending participants below. You can number your entry by typing a hash (#) key at the beginning of the line. To see how to link to your username, see the previous entries as an example. Simply substitute your username for theirs! If your link is red, that is only because you have not created your user page yet - this is fine.


 * 1) Ally Crockford - will be leading the training
 * 2) User:MrsB0608
 * 3) User:Privatefrazer

Questions

 * 1) Do I have to register to attend, or can I just arrive on the day?
 * You do not have to register, but resources will be limited so we ask that you either sign up above or express your interest by contacting the organiser [mailto:a.crockford@nls.uk Ally Crockford] directly. If you do not do so then there may not be spaces or equipment to allow you to participate on the day.
 * 1) Is there a minimum number of Wikipedia edits I have to have made to be allowed to attend?
 * Of course not. All are welcome - even if you've never edited Wikipedia before. Being "a Wikipedian" is a self-defined thing, so if you call yourself a Wikipedian (or would like to become one) then come along!
 * 1) What about lunch?
 * Sandwiches and tea/coffee will be provided, courtesy of the Library. And, of course, there's always the cafe!
 * 1) Do you have to own/bring a laptop?
 * Preferably yes. Unless you confirm that you will not be bringing a laptop, it is very likely that there will not be one available. If you do not own a laptop or are unable to bring it on the day, please make sure that you make this clear when you register above or when you contact the organiser. Otherwise you may not be able to edit!