Page:Wikipedia and Academic Libraries.djvu/48

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CHAPTER 3


WHERE HISTORY MEETS MODERN: AN OVERVIEW OF ACADEMIC PRIMARY SOURCE RESEARCH-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS AGGREGATING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND WIKIMEDIA


Odin Essers1, Henrietta Hazen1 and Nicolette Siep1

1 Maastricht University Library


Abstract

At Maastricht University Library, the use of literary sources from its Special Collections by students is promoted and facilitated through the development and organization of specialized research-based learning programs as part of the Wikipedia Education Program. The central aim of these learning programs is to educate students on the social relevance of the Special Collections, such as the Jesuit library, which contains books (on philosophy, history, anatomy, literature, theology, law, and various social sciences) dating back to the beginning of the sixteenth century. In addition, by participating in these programs, undergraduate students from various colleges are given the opportunity to develop their information literacy skills by gaining experience in conducting empirical literature research on primary historical sources and its publication through a popular open-access platform. Evaluations from students indicate that the unique combination of