Category:Wikimedia UK/GLAMSounds

Working with a range of GLAM partners, we have found that many of them have good audio file collections, but are taking slightly different approaches to uploads and reuse, or not seeing possibilities for these at all. As opposed to working with each collection individually, we have decided to take a step back and look at multiple collections as part of a whole.

For example, the British Library and the Natural History Museum both have extensive collections of nature sounds, individually not having a complete collection perhaps, but together achieving that goal. Working backwards from the end goal of completing a list of sounds from, for example, a comprehensive Wikidata-sourced list of birds from multiple sources, as opposed to working the point of view of utilising a (comprehensive?) list of bird sounds from one source, we should be better able to achieve that goal.

• Looking at these partnerships at a format-level and responding to clear gaps in audio file presence helps us establish demand, and then look at the available supply of files across institutions.

• It will help us put scalable re-use at the heart of the process. Filling gaps in a Wikidata item's properties, from whence any related WP articles can be improved across languages.

• It will establish methodology and workflow for volunteers who want to work "root and branch" with an audio file collection.

• Reuse examples will act as case studies for further releases.

• British Library via Europeana Sounds - Wildlife sounds.
• Natural History Museum, London - Wildlife sounds from Bioacoustica collection
• UNESCO - Recordings of the voices of notable politicians and UN staff

• Near threatened birds without audio file (934 as of 13 September)
• Vulnerable birds without audio file (731 as of 13 September)
• Endangered birds without an audio file (410 as of 12 September)
• Critically endangered birds without an audio file (213 as of 12 September)
• Birds extinct in the wild without audio file (5 as of 13 September)