National Railway Museum

This page is kept as an archival reference.If you want to raise a point about it, please start a discussion thread on the community forum.

National Railway Museum Wikimedia workshop

Date: 22 June 2011

Introduction

An exhibit at the NRM

This was a day workshop with some demonstrations and presentations. The event was hosted by the National Railway Museum in York (Morton Suite).

Attendees included:

• NRM staff interested in working with Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects
• Representatives from other museums - to be sought through the Museum Computer Group mailing list
• Wikipedians already involved with the NRM or with GLAM outreach
• Wikipedians interested in working with GLAM and/or the NRM - to be sought through promotion on wikipedia (e.g. banner ad, related wikiprojects)
• Meetup the night before - all welcome

Agenda

This agenda is a provisional framework

• 10.00 Registration
• 10.20 Introduction and housekeeping
• 10.30 Keynote presentation by Liam Wyatt, WMF GLAM Fellow (with Q&A)
• 11.15 Break
• 11.20 Presentation/demonstration of QR codes and the related multi-language engagement of Wikipedia by (TBC)
• 12.00 Walk-through of Wikimedia projects (Wikimedia Commons, Wikisource, Wikiversity), teamwork pages and WikiProjects by (TBC)
• 12.30 Open plenary, Wikilounge suggestions
• 12.45 Break for lunch and social discussion
• 13.45 Wikilounge (natural break at 15.00)
  • Wikilounge may adapt depending on demand, suggested parallel sessions on:
    • NRM concept event and issues
    • Other museums work and Wikimedia e-volunteer concept as a UK wide programme (with news of our Scotland initiative)
    • Editing and coaching clinic for those who want to roll up their sleeves and have a go
• 16.00 Summary, shared conclusions and commitments
• 16.30 Close

Attendees

The expectation was for the workshop day to involve 9 museum professionals from York and nearby and 9 Wikipedians/Wikimedians with relevant interest and experience. Total number was limited to a maximum of 24. Tagishsimon was the Wikimedia coordinator for the day.

Wikimedians

• Tagishsimon - Coordinating event
• Victuallers - WM-UK Chair, involved in NRM liaison - will attend, real life permitting
• Wittylama - WMF GLAM Fellow, will attend, possible opening presenter
• Geof Sheppard - have offered to help this project because of my work on railway history articles.
• PatHadley - Hoping to attend. Know nothing about trains and little more about Wikipedia, but really excited about how this might work!
• Johnbod - for wiki-lounge, or can talk
• Zeyi - WMUK former board member, know little about trains but really glad to help the collaboration between Wiki and Museums.

Museums

• Mark Green - National Railway Museum
• Jaspal Sahota - NRM
• Ellen Tait - NRM
• Joe Savage - NRM
• Tim Proctor - NRM (afternoon only)
• Bob Gwynne - NRM (afternoon only)
• Emma James - National Media Museum
• John Coburn - Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums
• Janet E Davis - Cultural Heritage Researcher and Advisor
• Alex Woodall - Renaissance East Midlands
• Michael Woodward - Commercial Director - York Museum's Trust
• Andrew Whitworth - School of Education - University of Manchester

What happened

Everyone, I think turned up, & the day was judged a great success. Excellent facilities, lunch & hosting from the NRM, thanks! From the GLAM newsletter for June:"Representatives from around 6 museums attended, in addition to several staff from the Railway Museum itself. Wyatt gave the keynote speech, followed by a Q&A. In the afternoon the Wikimedians organized a "Wikilounge", where they discussed Wikipedia with GLAM representatives and held an "Editing clinic", for those who wanted to have a go. The results of the day included three follow-up meetings/presentations being arranged with additional museums, whilst the NRM is also looking hopeful for co-operation with Wikipedia. This will probably mainly focus on their very strong collection of railway art, of which little was displayed previously, as well as railway history and technology" - which is almost how I remember it. In the afternoon we split into a NRM-specific table with myself, and a more general one with Liam, with Simon and others moving between them. We overran considerably & were still going at closing time. Only a brief chance to see most of the museum, but we had a good look at the new art gallery, which will I think be one focus of future collaboration, and some of us saw the impressive library & reaseach facilities. Johnbod 19:06, 21 July 2011 (UTC)