I would like to thank the OSG members who have come forward to volunteer their help during our January Wiki Edit-a-Thon. The event will come to an end on Wednesday next week, but I hope that this is just the beginning of a revived interest in the wiki.
The articles that you see right now on the Objects Wiki are works in progress. These drafts are just the seeds of what these articles will eventually become with the support of our OSG community. If you would like to get involved, please contact our AIC e-Editor, Rachael Perkins Arenstein, with your area of interest.
This month a new article on “Glass” was started, as a collaboration with professors, professional conservators, and the 1st year conservation students in the UCLA/Getty Conservation Program’s Class of 2014. This highlights the potential for us to work in teams to begin and continue entries. Furthermore, it exemplifies one way that emerging conservators and training programs can get involved with the wiki. The potential for mentorship and learning is endless, and includes opportunities for specialists and non-specialists alike. http://www.conservation-wiki.com/index.php?title=Glass
Here are a few highlights of the progress made on the Objects Specialty Group Conservation Catalog Wiki this month:
*We’ve reached our goal of increasing the total number of OSG members with wiki creator status.
*New and improved guides make it easier to contribute with help on getting started, formatting, and templates. http://www.conservation-wiki.com/index.php?title=Contribute_to_the_Objects_Wiki
*There is more consistent information content and standardized headings between the articles; with much thanks to previous AND new contributors who have volunteered to upgrade articles to follow the new templates and guides.
*New articles are underway on the following topics: ceramics, feathers, glass, horn, metals, stone, ethnographic materials, outdoor sculpture, setting up a lab, magnetic mounts, and archaeological materials.
So, what are you waiting for? We need your help!
LeeAnn Barnes Gordon
OSG committee chair for the AIC Wiki