Opening Event: Monday, April 17, 2023 - Recording 
Closing Event: Friday, April 21, 2023 - Recording
Free & virtual!
Join the Linked Data Users Group of the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) for a free, semi-synchronous, week-long virtual event that explores Wikidata. No prior experience is necessary! Project staff will provide you with everything you need to create and edit Wikidata entities.
This edit-a-thon will take place the week of April 17-21. An opening event on the 17th will include an introduction to editing Wikidata. A closing event on the 21st will review and celebrate what we achieved together. A Slack channel will be available to communicate with fellow Wikidata editors throughout the week.
In this Edit-a-thon, we will focus on descriptions of local community theatre and performing arts organizations. Participants may create Wikidata entries for their favorite local organizations or create and edit entries for organizations provided by the Edit-a-thon staff.
These events are free to all and will take place via Zoom; however, you must register in advance. Join for either event and edit during the week as much as you'd like. We will provide instructions, tools, data sources, and an optional Slack channel for chat. If you have questions, please contact LDUG steering committee chair Marianne Swierenga, marianne.swierenga@wmich.edu. And if you're ready to join us, use the registration link to reserve your spot.
to be added to the Wikidata Event Dashboard (required) and MCLS LDUG Slack channel (optional); (Link for existing users: https://mclsldugwikidata.slack.com ).: Introduction to Wikidata; Databases and Linked Data; and Adding to Wikidata
Steering Committee Members:
Marianne Swierenga, Western Michigan University, MI (Chair)
Julia Daniel Walkuski, Granite Solutions Groupe, MI
Jennifer Liss, Indiana University, IN
Julia Palos, Ball State University, IN
Jaime Pitt, Indiana Wesleyan University, IN
Andrea Kappler, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, IN
Pam Swaidner, Indianapolis Public Library, IN
For questions, please contact:
Marianne Swierenga, Steering Committee Chair - marianne.swierenga@wmich.edu
Scott Garrison, MCLS - garrisons@mcls.org
Looking for resources or more information about linked data? Check out this list of resources from the steering committee.
Nov. 2, 2022 All-Users Group Meeting:
Library System's Readiness for Linked Data: Presentation by Marshall Breeding
Recording link
Recording link-YouTube
April 25 & 29, 2021 All-Users Group Meeting:
Spring 2022 Wikidata Edit-A-Thon: Indiana and Michigan Book Awards, opening event link & closing event link - Virtual exploration of Wikidata and the award-winning books from and about Indiana and Michigan, presented by MCLS's Linked Data Users Group
Oct. 28, 2021 All-Users Group Meeting:
The Making of Enslaved.org - Presentation by Seila Gonzalez Estrecha and Dean Rehberger, Matrix (the Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences at Michigan State University)
Oct. 15, 2020 All-Users Group Meeting:
Linked Data for the Perplexed Librarian: Q&A with the Authors - Discussion with Cory Lampert, Darnelle Melvin, and Anne Washington
Nov. 13, 2019 All-Users Group Meeting:
Download a recording: LD Users Group Meeting 11-13-19.mp4
Linked Data Models and Their Implications for Search 
- Presentation by Stephen Hearn, University of Minnesota
Linked Data In Inspire - Presentation by Maurine McCourry, Hillsdale College
Making the Future Happen With MARCEdit - Presentation by Robin Fay
Nov. 7, 2018 All-Users Group Meeting:
Download a recording: LD Users Group Meeting 11-7-18.mp4
Slides from Andrew Weidner's "Planting Cedar" presentation
May 2, 2018 All-Users Group Meeting:
Semantic Web, Authority Control, and You - Presentation by Jennifer Liss, Indiana University
Library.Link Network Update from Zepheira - Presentation by Jeff Penka, Zepheira, LLC
Q&A Recording: LDUG_Meeting_Recording_05022018.mp4
Meeting Chat
Download a recording of 10/4/17 Users Group meeting: LD Users Group meeting 1 - 10-4-17.mp4
Want to join the Users Group? Fill out the form below, and you will be added to any group emails sent out about future meetings, etc.
