Wikipediani, utenti remoti e “operosi” di servizi bibliotecari

Abstract

The collaboration between libraries and Wikimedia projects are now widespread and documented. Social scientists have also started to deal with the motivations and organizational methods of Wikipedian volunteers, from the point of view of content co-production. The information needs of those who work in wiki projects as potential user of libraries is not yet fully investigated. In the perception of the Wikipedian community this theme is, however, particularly felt. The value of an encyclopedic entry, in fact, is fundamentally based on the quality of the bibliographic sources used for its drafting. The Wikipedia library (TWL) was born to provide better sources to the editors. The Italian branch made a deal with Nilde, the document exchange library network. The partnership is developing an international network of libraries to support the Wikipedian community. For Nilde member libraries, the project makes it possible to experiment with services aimed at active communities on the web, usually difficult to intercept. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between digital common goods and shared culture in the information and communication society. The Department of Social sciences of the University of Florence, in collaboration with the Library of Social sciences has launched, in parallel, a qualitative research project to provide libraries with interpretations of the behavior of Wikipedian users, thus identifying the information needs felt such as priorities and facilitating greater customization of the services offered.