Become a Wikipedia editor at Queen Street Mill

Staff at Queen Street Mill (QSM) are looking for budding Wikipedians to help research and record the history of Lancashire's textile industry.

The museum, at Harle Syke, near Burnley, is hosting a special Wikipedia open day from 11am to 4.30pm on Saturday 10 May.

The open day follows a successful £2,000 Wikipedia project which ran last year and was funded by Museums Development North West, a group which supports work in museums, art galleries and heritage organisations in the region.

Sarah Taylor, Lancashire County Council's museum manager at QSM, said: "On the day, we will give people a tour of the site and use of our extensive textile library. This contains more than 7,000 books and journals, together with other important historical items.

"In return we would like people to help us write Wikipedia entries about the many aspects of this unique museum and its amazing collections."

The programme for the day is as follows:

11.00 – 11.05: Welcome
11.05 – 11.15: 'Wikipedia and museums – the story so far'
11.15 – 12.30: Background of mill
12.30 – 13.00: Lunch
13.00 – 16.30: Wikipedia editing

The event is free but people will need to book in advance and bring their own laptop. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to book a place, phone QSM on 01282 41255 or email [email protected].

To find out more about Lancashire County Council's museums visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/acs/sites/museums.

ENDS

`Notes for Editors: Queen Street Mill Textile Museum is the world's only ! surviving 19th century steam-powered weaving mill and brings steam powered weaving to life. The mill is a time capsule of the late Victorian age, and was still producing cloth using Victorian steam-driven looms until its closure in 1982. The museum has a collection of machinery and other items related to the textile industry which, combined with that of its sister facilities at Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, are designated as being of national importance. Additionally, QSM boiler house, engine house and chimney have Ancient Monument status. The machinery has been preserved in situ in full working order. It includes the original Lancashire boiler and the 500 horse power tandem compound steam engine, 'Peace'. All of the looms were made by local Burnley firms Harling and Todd, and Pemberton's.

For further information please contact: Greg Bowen on 01772 536757