Have you ever looked at Wikipedia and said to yourself, “something’s missing”? Now is your chance to learn how to edit Wikipedia while improving the website’s entries on Black history and culture. With our Wikipedia Edit-a-thon event, you will be able to create entries like the “Harlem Book Fair” or add images of Xenobia Bailey’s beautiful crochet artwork to her page.
The Edit-a-thon will be held in the Aaron Douglas Reading Room of the Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division on the C-level (lower level) of the Schomburg Center. A reception in the Langston Hughes lobby on the first floor of the building will follow the event at 5:00 pm.
Stay for the entire afternoon or drop in any time between 12 pm and 5 pm. Bring your own laptop if possible. Laptops will also be available to check out with your NYPL library card. Schomburg librarians will be on hand to provide information and instruction on using our rich research collections. Volunteer Wikipedians will also be present to provide support and instruction on editing Wikipedia. Advanced wiki editing skills not required. Passion for Black history and culture highly recommended!
The event will include a training session for participants who are new to Wikipedia editing at 12:30pm. The training session will focus on providing the tools needed to create and edit Wikipedia articles. Wikipedia specialists will also be on hand to provide basic instruction and editing support throughout the event.
If you don’t have a library card, start the application process online and pick up your card on that Saturday (2/7). If you don’t have a Wikipedia account, create one before Saturday so you can get started editing right away.