The Wiki Loves Bieb project aims to strengthen collaboration between Wikimedia Netherlands and Dutch public libraries. It focuses on media literacy, cultural heritage, and establishing libraries as a digital reference point on Wikipedia. A pilot project was launched in the Vlissingen public library to develop resources for libraries to educate users, improve article quality with collection materials, and establish their role within Wikipedia. The goals are to improve relationships, visibility of collections, and awareness of Wikimedia while increasing contributions and quality on Wikipedia.

1. ‘Wiki Loves Bieb’
The power of collaboration between
libraries and Wikimedia
Karolien Selhorst
Online Information 2010

2. Wiki Loves Bieb: what?
• Goal: a project that aims to set up a structural
collaboration between Wikimedia Netherlands
and the sector of Dutch public libraries.
• Partners: the Association Wikimedia Nederland,
the Dutch Association of Public Libraries (VOB)
and the public library of Vlissingen.
• Start: January 2010; end: January 2011.

3. Wiki Loves Bieb: why?
• Few online resources provoke as much
controversy in the library community as
Wikipedia. Some librarians hate it and say it
cannot be trusted. Others love it, because it is
fast, easy to use, and a good starting point for
reference work. Consequently, there is no clear
understanding amongst librarians about what to
do with this popular virtual encyclopedia.
• In order to overcome these prejudices, ‘Wiki
loves Bieb’ has been launched.

4. Wiki Loves Bieb: focus
• The project focuses on three themes:
– media literacy or the use of Wikipedia in
education;
– cultural heritage or how libraries and other local
heritage partners can improve the quality of the
information in Wikipedia and how they can add
collections;
– the digital library or the library as reference point
in Wikipedia.

5. Theme 1: Media literacy
• Project results:
– workshops/information meetings for secondary
school teachers about Wikipedia;
– guest lectures for secondary school pupils
about the use of Wikipedia;
– post project workshops for ‘mediacoaches’ on
how to work with the project products.

6. Theme 2: Cultural heritage
• Projects results:
– a high quality Wikipedia article on Vlissingen
(made with local partners and people in
Vlissingen);
– information meetings for local heritage
institutions about how they can make their
collections visible on Wikipedia;
– research report on how library collections can
be made visible in Wikipedia.

7. Theme 3: The digital library as reference
point in Wikipedia
• Project results:
– Research report on the public library as
virtual reference point in Wikipedia
– An alternative to Al@din?

8. Wiki Loves Bieb: how?
• In order to reach the project goals, a pilot
project has been set up in the public library of
Vlissingen during which the project products
will be developed that all Dutch public libraries
can use in het future.
• Limitation: public libraries should be able to
adopt the project products and use them in their
own local context.

9. Wiki Loves Bieb: effects
• In the long term, this collaboration will:
– strengthen relationships between public libraries
and schools, between public libraries and local
heritage partners;
– lead to a better visibility of (library) collections and
expertise in Wikipedia;
– raise people’s awareness about the use of
Wikimedia’s digital knowledge products, of
Wikimedia and about the use of free licenses;

10. Wiki Loves Bieb: effects
• In the long term, this collaboration will:
– increase the quantity and thereby the quality of
contributions (critical mass) on Wikipedia;
– raise awareness about the use of Wikipedia in
education;
– strengthen the relationship between libraries and
international partners in the knowledge commons
– ….

11. Wiki Loves Bieb: project status

12. Wiki Loves Bieb: future
• Presentation of project results on national public
libraries conference in December 2010.
• Post project support: how and who?
• Share experiences and project results in an
international context (all products will be made
available under a cc license).

13. Questions or more information?
karosel64@gmail.com
www.karolienselhorst.be
Project blog: http://wikilovesbieb.nl/
Wiki Loves Bieb on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/wikilovesbieb