What is #1Lib1Ref?

Imagine a World where Every Librarian Added One More Reference to Wikipedia.

Twice per year, #1Lib1Ref — abbreviated for one librarian, one reference — calls on librarians around the world, and anyone who has a passion for free knowledge, to add missing references to articles on Wikipedia.

Wikipedia is one of the first stops for readers and researchers. It’s an especially important resource now, during COVID-19, when people are increasingly turning to the platform for trustworthy, unbiased, and up-to-date information. Join us to help improve the quality of content on Wikipedia for the billions of people staying at home during this public health crisis.

Your goal is to add at least one reference to Wikipedia! Any citation to a reliable source is a benefit to Wikipedia readers worldwide. When you edit, make sure to include the hashtag #1Lib1Ref in the edit summary.

The #1Lib1Ref campaign is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation and supported by the Wikipedia Library Team and Wikimedia Affiliates around the world. We also work closely with international and local library networks to promote the campaign.

Amid COVID-19, #1Lib1Ref has transitioned to a fully virtual campaign. Please follow WHO guidelines to protect the safety of yourself and others, and do not hold in-person events. See our resources page for guidance on hosting virtual events, and learn more about Wikimedia’s COVID-19 response here

How to Participate: Five Basic Steps

1. Find an article that needs a citation. There are many ways to do this. Here are some strategies.
   • Filling a "Citation Needed" using Citation Hunt
   • Finding an article with sourcing problems
   • Select an article while browsing
   • Cite a source from your collection or research
2. Find a reliable source that can support that article
3. Add a citation using Wikipedia Style. Click here to learn about adding citations and editing Wikipedia
4. Add the project hashtag #1Lib1Ref in the Wikipedia Edit Summary
5. Share your edit on social media and learn more about libraries and Wikipedia. Grab a userbox for your user page if you're into that sort of thing.

How do you want to engage in #1Lib1Ref?

This section is tailored to suit your level of participation or interest in the campaign. You may click any of these buttons to discover existing modes of participation.

Birthday “Human” Challenge!</translate> ===

Join our 20th birthday competition to celebrate the humans that make Wikipedia possible: readers and editors alike. The 2021 theme for Wikimedia is “ 20 years human!” -- and to celebrate humanity as part of the #1lib1ref campaign, we have a challenge for you: add citations that expand Wikipedia's coverage of Human Rights in your context. To add your #1lib1ref edit to the challenge, simply use two hashtags: “#1lib1ref #WikiForHumanRights” to submit an edit.

Would you like to experiment with some new activities?

For the 2023 1lib1ref, we are giving you more options to participate in the campaign. Do you already know how to edit Wikipedia and other projects? Click on any of the three buttons below to discover the new participation methods.

Does the time not work for you? Not to worry – we've got you covered!

1Lib1Ref campaigns or events currently receive year-round support, so don't hesitate to get in touch with the team if you are organising an event out of the regular campaign schedule!

Track your impact and connect with others around the campaign

We are excited to officially map the campaign and track the overall impact of your efforts. With so much excitement around adding citations, some institutions have even used the campaign to start a healthy competition between organisations. Use the dashboard (click the button below) to register, track and showcase your event!

Fill out the feedback form

We encourage all 1Lib1Ref enthusiasts (or critics) to fill out our new feedback form to help us gather stories of your achievements and pain points about the campaign. (That form uses Google Forms).