Hands on history: an introduction to Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia and the 6th most visited website on the internet. 

Wikipedia content is created and edited worldwide by volunteer contributors. It has long been acknowledged that there is a lack of diversity among contributors.

People are meeting up across the world to help grow the diversity of voices on platforms like Wikidata and Wikipedia. The City of Sydney Library has joined this movement in partnership with Wikimedia Australia to host edit-a-thons that increase and improve content relevant to our diverse communities.

No experience needed. Just sign up for a Wikipedia account in advance and bring along your laptop and connect to the library’s free wifi.

Facilitators

Toby Hudson is an Associate Professor, and School of Chemistry Associate Head of School (Education) at the University of Sydney. His research interests span materials chemistry simulation, search and optimisation, and educational technology. He has been involved in Wikimedia projects since 2004, especially Commons, Wikidata, and the English Wikipedia.

Annie Reynolds has been editing Wikipedia since 2014. Although her focus is on writing biographies of women, she also enjoys adding info about literary prizes and new books by Australian authors and anything else newsworthy that she discovers online.