Wikipedians in Special Residence (WisR's, Netherlands, November 2013 - March 2015) was a project in which two hired Wikipedians linked the data and expertise of twelve specialised Dutch libraries with Wikimedia sites. Project initiators and leads were Jos Damen (African Studies Centre Leiden, Leiden) and Ingeborg Verheul (Atria, Amsterdam) for WSWB, the Werkgroep Speciale Wetenschappelijke Bibliotheken (Dutch Academic Library Working Group), a collaboration of Dutch libraries, which coordinated this project. The difference with a regular Wikipedian in Residence project was that in the present project twelve libraries have had their own Wikipedian for two months each.[1] (Note: As of 2024, follow-up Wikipedia Workshops on a bimonthly basis are still going strong at Atria and IHLIA in Amsterdam, organised by themselves.)
Upload of data curated by the libraries to Wikimedia Commons.
Application of the expertise of the libraries to Wikipedia.
Education of the staff of the libraries in this new interactive medium, promote contributions tot Wikimedia and elicit collaboration between the twelve libraries.
Enrichment of Wikipedia using expert knowledge from the libraries.
These themes should no be construed too strictly: new combinations may emerge from the collaboration between various libraries. The WisR's can work from the perspective of Wikipedia and complement fields which are represented poorly in Wikipedia. They are free to choose their subjects and collections within a library. Of course the WisR's will not promote the libraries on Wikipedia. Instead, it is their brief to put the collections, images, information and metadata of the libraries within reach of the public.
Two Wikipedians were hired as contractors for fourteen months: one month of preparation, six residencies of two months each at various libraries, and a final month to collect the results. Although digitization can be a part of the project, the broader goals were
incorporating digital data in Wikipedia through Wikimieda Commons. The Wikipedian in special Residence collects material on relevant subject within the expertise of the hosting library and expands articles on Wikipedia with text, references, links, audio files and images.
application of the expertise of the libraries and expand Wikipedia articles likewise.
inviting library staff and volunteers of the participating institutions to contribute to Wikipedia by providing training sessions and support.
The project manager presided over a monitoring group, consisting of representatives of the libraries, members of the Wikipedia community and the two Wikipidiena in special residence.
In November 2013 two Dutch Wikipedians in Special Residence, Hans Muller and Arie Sonneveld, have commenced their employment with twelve special Dutch libraries. Sonneveld (Gebruiker:Theobald Tiger) and Muller (Gebruiker:Hansmuller, User:JMMuller) are both well-versed Wikipedians. They have edited thousands of articles and started hundreds of articles as well on Dutch Wikipedia.
Muller has a background in physics, astronomy and Dutch archives. He was employed, e.g., as an astronomer in Rome, Italy, as a teacher and as a organiser for the Dutch chapter Wikimedia Nederland of the Wikimedia Foundation. Sonneveld studied at Wageningen University, and has been an editor, translator and manager of large bookshops and public libraries. Due to their encyclopedic interests and backgrounds, they will be up to the task of engaging with the very diverse fields of the twelve libraries and Wikipedia. Vysotsky 31 okt 2013 23:18 (CET) (adaptation Hansmuller (talk) 07:13, 10 May 2024 (UTC))[reply]
Reference collection of shin bones of pigs, dogs and other animals, Archeozoology RCE
Ornament on the church bell of the Grote Kerk, Almelo, requisitioned by the German occupation forces during the Second World War. Collectie Klokkenvordering 1942-1943, RCE
^Damen, Jos; Verheul, Ingeborg (21 March 2017). "Eindrapportage van het project "Wikipedians in Special Residence" (2013-2015)" [Final report of the project “Wikipedians in Special Residence” (2013-2015)] (in Dutch). WSWB Libraries. Werkgroep Speciale Wetenschappelijke Bibliotheken, the Netherlands. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
