Chances are if you search for “Rowan County NC” online, one of your top two results will be from Wikipedia, a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free Internet encyclopedia.
Anyone who can access the site can edit almost any of its articles, a fact that has been praised and ridiculed by the public and scholars alike. With more than 1.2 billion unique visitors annually, Wikipedia is the largest and most popular general reference work online, and it’s up to researchers and scholars to verify the facts. That’s where local residents come in.
Rowan Public Library invites local history buffs to join them for the first Wikipedia Editathon, held at Rowan Public Library Headquarters at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. The group will look at the Wikipedia page for Rowan County and hopes to add more detail, particularly to the “History Section.” Participants will work together on information and wording to add, in succinct passages, to the present Wikipedia page. The library hopes to look at general history for Rowan, but can also take a look at cities and towns within Rowan and expand on the information available on area communities. Notable people might also be a segment of particular interest to a contributor.
This program is part of the 411 Community Read partnership with Cabarrus, Stanly, Davidson and Rowan counties. Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8232 for more information.