Black Power! Wikipedia Edit-a-thon

POSTED BY
Evelyn Kanter

Are you an expert in Black History? Sign up for Black Power! Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at The Schomburg Center branch of the NYPL next weekend, including a first-ever satellite hook-up with Wikipedia editors in Africa, who will be fact-checking and editing alongside NYC contributors.

Register now to reserve a spot at this FREE event, noon to 5pm, next Saturday, Feb. 25th, since space is first come first serve. A reception follows at the end of the event.

The Schomburg Center is working with AfroCROWD on this third Black Power! Wikipedia Edit-a-thon, part of the national Black WikiHistory Month outreach campaign. For the first time, via video satellite, we’ll be able to unite with Wikipedia editors in Africa who will edit alongside us.

Wikipedia is the free online encyclopedia, written collaboratively by the people who use it (crowdsourced).

At this event, you will learn how Wikipedia works and how to add content to it, including by using the resources of the Schomburg library to write and edit entries on black history and culture.

Volunteer Wikipedians, the experts, will also be on hand to provide support and instruction on working in Wikipedia.

The Wikipedia training and Edit-a-thon will be 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.

House rules:

If you’re new to Wikipedia, check out the Beginner’s guide to Wikipedia and make sure to create an account before Feb. 25th so you can get started right away
Bring your own laptop if possible. Laptops will also be available to check out with your NYPL library card.
Advanced wiki editing skills not required.
No food or drinks are allowed anywhere in the Schomburg Center.
Passion for black history and culture is highly recommended.
The Schomburg generally overbooks to ensure full attendance. All registered spots are released 15 to 30 minutes before start time, so arrive early.

The Schomburg Center branch of the NYPL is at 135th St. and Malcolm X Blvd., one block from the 135th St. stop of the 2 and 3 subway station.