Today is the start of the biannual 1Lib1Ref event!
From 15th January to 5th February 2020, librarians around the world will contribute to the 5th campaign taking place on Wikipedia.

The objectives of this effort are to improve the quality and reliability of articles on the website with librarians and by inviting the public to contribute to Wikipedia by exploiting the sources available in libraries.

Why commit to #1Lib1Ref in your library?

Wikipedia is a collaborative encyclopedia available in almost 300 different languages, and which promotes values shared by libraries such as free access to information and education.

While many information professionals can see it as an unreliable source of information, it remains. However, statistics show that it is one of the most consulted sites on the internet.

#1Lib1Ref is therefore an opportunity for librarians to extend access to reliable information for all, and in doing so, promote their collections beyond their physical spaces.

Furthermore, it also provides an opportunity to train users in digital tools and literacy but also to educate users on how to check a reliable source, as set out in the IFLA-Wikimedia opportunities papers.

What is a reliable source on Wikipedia?

  • an article based on reliable published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy.
  • a book or content published with editorial quality.
  • a source to which you would recommend to users of your library.

More information here

How to organise an event or to add references? 

There are many tools to facilitate the setting up of # 1Lib1Ref workshops.

But in general, all articles can be improved by adding a source, so do not hesitate to take a public figure of your choice or a theme that you like. You may, in particular, want to focus on figures and themes which are otherwise under-represented.

If you would like a more precise explanation on adding a source to Wikipedia, do not hesitate to consult this resource.