Wikimedian in Residence

WiR working with librarians in Stockholm

A Wikimedian in Residence is somebody who works with an organisation. They can also be known as a Wikipedian in Residence. The name is also shortened to WiR.

They help the people at the host organisation to understand Wikipedia. They also help them to understand Wikipedia's sister projects. The sister projects include Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata and Wikisource. Usually, WiR do not write about the organisation where they work. Instead, they help experts at their organisation to write about the things they know.

WiRs work with different types of organisations. These are most often GLAMs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums). Some residents work in educational institutions such as universities. Sometimes they work across several organizations. If they do, then they can be called a "Wikimedian at Large". For example one worked across New Zealand. Some WiRs are paid by the organization where they work. Or they can be paid by a Wikimedia-related organization. Some are volunteers.

Interactive map of WiR, made with Wikidata.

History

The first WiR was at the British Museum. That was in 2010.

By 2016, more than 100 people had been a WiRs. By 2020 there were more than 220.

This chart shows everyone involved in a typical WiR project (what each provides and receives).

Wikimedian In Residence Media

• 

  Wikimedian in Residence timeline 2019

• 

  UNESCO Memory of the World WiR talking at the Zeeuws Archief

• 

  WiR running a training course for librarians in Stockholm

• 

  WiRs who are librarians in Tunis

• 

  WiR teaching digitization skills at the Archivo Histórico de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

• 

  WiR teaching various Wiki Project to School students.

Other websites

• General information about WiR
• The Wikimedians in Residence Exchange Network - Where WiRs can help each other.