Wikisource is going strong: we're currently validating the last pages of Preshaw's Banking Under Difficulties (1888), and have just started Lord's Old Westland (1939). Both of these are pivotal books of West Coast history, and I'm really pleased we'll been able to make them available for the first time ever as library e-books. Wikisource ☞
Over August and September we're focussing on the natural history of the West Coast. We're trying to get reasonable articles and photos for all the Coast's lizard species, like the Kapitia skink, with the help of DOC. There's plenty to do on endangered species like the Westland Petrel, and localities like the Open Bay Islands, home to two endangered lizards and an endangered leech, I kid you not. Natural History ☞
Meetups: Grey District Library, Greymouth, Sat 28 Aug 10:00 am • Westland District Library, Hoikitika, Sat 4 Sep 1:00 pm • Grey District Library, Greymouth, Sat 25 Sep 10:00 am • Westland District Library, Hoikitika, Sat 16 Oct 1:00 pm
I gave a presentation and workshop about Wikisource at the LIANZA librarians conference in November, and there was quite a bit of interest. We finished proofreading Old Westland (1939), released it into the library catalogue as a e-book, and it was almost immediately borrowed by 15 people (the physical book had only gone out three times in the last few years). Newly-uploaded books needing work are George Marriner's The Kea: a New Zealand Problem, the 1886 edition of Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand, and Horatio Robley's Pounamu: notes on New Zealand greenstone.Wikisource ☞
With the help of the Left Bank Art Gallery we've been focussing on pounamu (greenstone) carving and hei tiki over the last month, with the goal of negotiating with copyright holders to get decent photos of different types of stone and some carving styles. There is lots to do! Let me know if you're keen to help with pounamu. Arts ☞
User:Paora has made some great improvements to Lake Wahapo, which made me wonder if there was interest in a small project in the New Year to improve articles on the West Coast's lakes and rivers.
Meetups: we had a small Wikiblitz at Byte Digital Hub in Greymouth on Sat 4 Dec, which improved the Greymouth article and led to the creation of Floods in Greymouth • There'll be an online meetup of the West Coast Task Force, Sat 15 Jan 1pm (link to join). • In February we're planning a Wikiblitz on the Westland Petrel and the Barrytown Flats, to take place somewhere around Punakaiki – watch this space.
