On August 27th, August 28th, and September 26th, 2024, Code for Africa’s African Wikipedian Alliance (AWA) held a series of bi-weekly webinars to introduce the Anglophone community to editing and documentation techniques on Wikisource. Led by facilitators Alice Kibombo, Senior Programmes Officer, Libraries at Wikimedia Foundation, and Divine G. Nanteza of the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda, the sessions attracted over 80 participants from Burundi, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Moderated by Bukola James, AWA Community Coordinator, the webinars provided participants with valuable insights into effective contributions on Wikisource, from basic proofreading to advanced content preservation.
Key Highlights
The series commenced with “Introduction to Wikisource,” which saw 25 participants engage in foundational skills crucial for effective contributions. Participants explored Wikisource’s purpose, interface, and editing policies. This session emphasised navigating the platform, performing simple edits, and using advanced tools for significant contributions. Following this, the second session, “Performing Major Edits on Wikisource,” attracted 30 attendees and focused on proofreading, validation techniques, and the importance of maintaining content quality. The series concluded with “Wikisource: Identifying Books and Publications for Documentation,” where Divine enlightened 29 participants on the process of uploading printed works under open licences and the types of publications suitable for digitization on Wikisource.
Conclusion
These webinars emphasised the significance of Wikisource as a platform for preserving and sharing culturally relevant content and provided participants with essential skills for effective contributions. By engaging with proofreading, validation, and having a clear knowledge about open licensing, attendees left the sessions well-prepared to enrich Wikisource with accessible, high-quality printed publications. Participants are encouraged to continue applying their knowledge to expand the platform’s repository and contribute meaningfully to open-access content.
For those interested in revisiting the session or those who might have missed it, the recorded version is available on the community programmes page. Ensure you are registered for the upcoming AWA Bi-weekly webinar and immerse in our vibrant community. To stay abreast of our initiatives, complete this form, and let’s shape the future together!
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