Wikidata Workshop

Wikidata is a collaborative knowledge base built on the principles of open knowledge and linked data. This Wikidata workshop covers the basics of the data model and provides hands-on exercises for participants to contribute and query data. The session is intended for library and archives staff, as well as digital humanities scholars, with an interest in developing practical linked data skills.

Workshop participants will be editing Wikidata entries related to people in the Handbook of Texas (HoT), specifically its projects related to expanding the representation of individuals from Texas history. While linked data knowledge is not a requirement, the workshop contents assume some familiarity with structured data and library/archival descriptive practices.

The learning outcomes of the workshop include:

• Understanding the basic structure of items, properties and statements on Wikidata
• Understanding best practices and ethical considerations for creating and editing Wikidata items
• Understanding value of queries and visualization tools to glean insights from Wikidata
• Hands-on experience editing Wikidata items and adding references
• Hands-on experience using SPARQL queries and visualization tools