Wikipedian in residence, 30k Options

[Peter Damian]

http://gs10.globalsuccessor.com/fe/tpl_bri...wfiperldhpyrjnc

£30,768 per annum, pro rata
6 months fixed term
If you are an experienced Wikipedia editor and have a good understanding of Wikimedia and GLAM projects, this post offers the opportunity to make a considerable contribution to the public's knowledge of the Library's unique collections and AHRC- funded projects.

Working closely with the Web Co-ordinator and specialist curators across the Library, your expertise will be instrumental in reviewing, improving and creating content on Wikipedia relating to British Library collections and AHRC-funded projects. Using your strong communication and organisational skills, you will promote and establish collaboration between staff and Wikimedia volunteers, in addition to arranging Wikipedia training sessions and events at the Library.

For informal enquiries please contact Richard Power, Web and Intranet Coordinator on 020 7412 7485.

Closing date: 23 February 2012

From the Job Profile attached to the link, it seems as though this is a British Museum funded initiative. The successful candididate will therefore be paid

• To develop new articles and edit existing entries relating to AHRC projects and British Library items and collections on Wikipedia, in conjunction with curators and other colleagues.
• To provide training and best-practice guidance on Wikipedia editing and Wikimedia volunteer engagement for British Library staff by means of presentations and direct instruction.

amongst other things.

Should we welcome this? Perhaps we should. It increases the degree to which institutions from a wider sphere engage with Wikipedia, and increases the leverage that critics of Wikipedia have upon the project.

This post has been edited by Peter Damian:

[Peter Damian]

Ah I've just noticed that according to this http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-0...an-in-residence it is the Arts and Humanities Research Council who are funding the programme, not the British Library.

Time to get the typewriter out.

"The main purpose of the position is to ensure a successful programme of collaboration with British Library staff and curators supporting volunteers with a passion for sharing open knowledge about the library's collections and projects," said Ashley Van Haeften, who looks after the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (Glam) programme at Wikimedia UK. "I have met many curators that are astonishingly passionate about openly sharing the knowledge that the library preserves."

It won't just be sitting at a computer screen all day, though. The successful candidate will also be tasked with organising events at the library too -- along with training sessions on how to use Wikipedia. The Arts and Humanities Research Council are funding the programme for six months with a salary of £30,768 pa, and Van Haeften says that Wikimedia UK plan to help out with associated event expenses.

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: