National Archives Hosts WikiConference USA October 9-11, 2015
Press Release · Monday, October 5, 2015
Washington, DC
From October 9 through 11, the National Archives will host WikiConference USA 2015, the annual national conference of Wikimedia enthusiasts and volunteers in the United States. Conference registration is still open. View the full schedule online.
“We are pleased to host the Wikimedia community, with whom we have had a long and beneficial collaboration,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “This exciting conference is an opportunity to continue our shared work of making information open, accessible, and engaging to the public in new and innovative ways.”
The conference is co-organized with the Wiki Education Foundation and conference partners, Wikimedia District of Columbia, and Wikimedia New York City. View the Wiki Education Foundation press release.
WikiConference USA will include workshops, panels, and presentations on Wikimedia’s outreach to cultural institutions, community building, technology development, and role in education. Two sessions will highlight the National Archives, Why Wikipedia Works for Us: an Exploration of Innovation at the National Archives, and a report from the GLAM-Wiki U.S. Consortium. Conference participants will be invited to explore the newly-opened National Archives Innovation Hub, and tour exhibits in the National Archives Museum.
Sessions held in the William G. McGowan Theater, including Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero’s opening address and the keynote presentations, will be livestreamed for remote participants. Tune into the livestream each day through NARA’s YouTube channel:
Friday, October 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj6U22uJzGM
Saturday, October 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkHbg9V5wnI
Sunday, October 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS-Y-FuzAH4
WikiConference USA is open to anyone, regardless of their involvement with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia projects. We welcome the curious, the skeptical, and anyone wishing to engage in meaningful conversation about the Wikimedia movement in the United States, free culture and digital rights advocacy and outreach, community building, and technology.
Hosting WikiConference USA reaffirms the National Archives' commitment to promoting broad public access to government records on Wikipedia. Previously, National Archives has uploaded records to Wikimedia Commons, hosted in-person Wikipedia events, and developed Wikipedia best practices for peer institutions. For more information on National Archives’ Wikipedia strategy, visit its most recent Open Government Plan.
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Press Inquiries: Please contact Wiki Education Foundation Communications Manager, Eryk Salvaggio: contact@wikiedu.org.
Follow the conference on social media using hashtag #WikiConUSA.
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