Locals needed for Wikipedia-a-thon

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There is such a thing as a free lunch, and you can get one if you are willing to help create and update Wanganui Wikipedia pages at an Edit-a-thon this Sunday.

Experienced Wikipedia editor Dr Mike Dickison will host the event which is sponsored by Whanganui and Partners, the Alexander Library, and the Whanganui Regional Museum.

"This is an all-day event where people will get together to learn how to edit and improve Wikipedia pages.

"Because most people find out about Wanganui and the surrounding area from Wikipedia, it's our responsibility to make those pages as accurate as possible," said Dr Dickison.

The event will be held at the Alexander Heritage & Research Library, in its temporary home at the old Post Office, 60 Ridgway St starting at 9am on Sunday morning.

The day will start with a meet and greet and setting up of Wikipedia accounts for those who do not have them followed by a session on how to create and update articles.

After lunch the editing will continue with a River Week theme focused on the Whanganui River and all topics connected to that, from history to the environment to fish biology.

Dr Dickison said people should register to attend the free event and set up a Wikipedia account beforehand if possible.

Attendees are asked to bring a laptop if they have one, any books, journals, magazine or newspaper articles relevant to pages you're interested in.

Photos you've taken that could illustrate Wikipedia articles; local buildings and landmarks especially.

-The Edit-a-thon has its own Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Whanganui/2015-River-Week-Edit-a-thon.

- For more information, and to register, see wikiwednesday.net