Grants talk:Project/OCLC/Action Plan for Wikipedia + Libraries Training in Mexico/Midpoint

Comments from I JethroBT (WMF)

@Thinktower: Hi Sharon, thanks for this midpoint report on your work developing an action plan for Wikipedia + Libraries in Mexico. I am approving this report with the following comments and questions:

• It's great to see the connections and engagement you have had with various entities, especially Wikimedia Mexico, national, and state-level libraries or library-affiliated institutions. It's exciting to see this level of support and interest in your work!
• Thanks for providing the list of previous and upcoming events (AMBAC, ENBA, XIX Congreso Nacional de Bibliotecas Públicas) where your team was represented to support your project goals! I'm interested in hearing more about what key organizations or individuals you were able to connect with at these prior events. Were these the places where you made a connection with the State Public Library of Jalisco and the The Public Library Network? Were there other connections you made at these events that were useful in terms of other experts or professionals?

@I JethroBT (WMF): The Mexico-based outreach consultants we are working with knew of these two library systems before. The person from the State Public Library of Jalisco attended the AMBAC conference in Mexico City, so they were able to establish first contact there. They were also able to connect with the director of the DGB at the XIX Congreso Nacional de Bibliotecas Públicas. These library conferences are certainly great ways to meet and network with professionals and experts in the field, especially when one has prior connections to start with and people who can make introductions. The consultants also made good connections with some of the new directors of Central State Public Libraries, with library schools, and learned of potential interest in Wikipedia training for the Senior High School Systems of Mexico.--Thinktower (talk) 16:12, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

• It's especially helpful to see what you've learned about the system of training under information gathering about the The Public Library Network. In the skill areas where training is provided by the DGB (i.e. basic technical training; promotion of reading; training in the management of bibliographic resources; and training in digital technology), do you have any impressions or ideas of where the action plan may or may not fit into these skills areas?

@I JethroBT (WMF):The training provided by the DGB appears to fit in to the objectives of the Action Plan. We also see high enthusiasm among the librarians to learn new digital skills.--Thinktower (talk) 16:12, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

• Regarding the interviews you've conducted, can you speak generally as to what sorts of topics were covered in these interviews and how they informed your activities, connections, or decisionmaking so far?

@I JethroBT (WMF):The main topics covered were the institutions’ current in-class and virtual training programs and infrastructure, their interest in digital topics (specifically in Wikipedia and the Wikipedia + Mexico Libraries initiative), adapting the existing training materials to the local environment, and related funding issues. Of course, the interviews also included active listening to demonstrate interest and understanding, and to hear the perspectives, priorities, and ideas offered by the directors--part of building those human-to-human connections! There were some explorations of library facilities too.--Thinktower (talk) 16:12, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

• I appreciate that you have called attention to the realities and hardships you have observed in your preliminary work so far. This helps provide important context why attempts to make connections do not always work out or cannot be easily sustained.
• In terms of next steps, what other topics in information gathering regarding libraries and library staff professional development will you be focusing on to prepare an action plan?

@I JethroBT (WMF): There will be a few follow-up meetings with some of the institutions visited so far, and meetings with a few new contacts established at the events mentioned in the report. We are simultaneously gathering and reviewing descriptions of the library ecosystem, which is understandably complex, as it spans government, geography, education, institution, and culture. --Thinktower (talk) 16:12, 3 October 2019 (UTC)

Thanks so much for this report on your activities so far. We're excited to see how your human-centered partnerships develop and your recommendations for implementing a training program for libraries in Mexico! I JethroBT (WMF) (talk) 20:59, 20 September 2019 (UTC)