Wikipedia (and his brothers) to network and improve services

Abstract

Only five years ago, the Italian librarians, archivists and museologists where both curious about and skeptical in order to collaborate, as knowledge organization professionals, with Wikipedia. However, nowadays there are many initiatives and projects in this area, so it is possible to find a common ground. Professionals are involved directly in Wikipedia as editors, making more visible their collections through digitization in Commons and Wikisource, and as mediators helping their users to become Wikipedians. Recently, some experiences have been implemented with the purpose of integrating traditional services (catalogues, reference service, etc.) and Wikimedia projects. Linked open data technology increases this possibility. The free encyclopedia organization is very different from institutional functioning and background. The monitoring of mutual influences is necessary. MAB coordination was created to integrate the services and professional skills of museums, archives and libraries. MAB is the proper place for different types of professionals to share their experiences. The article presents the projects developed in Tuscany in the last two years, mainly in libraries and museums.