Adrianne Wadewitz

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As a kid, I had an expensive habit: books. I would read any book my parents bought me — and then beg for another. So they decided to save their bank account. They bought me Jane Eyre.

That huge novel took me forever to finish, but I fell in love. In fifth grade, we were assigned to teach our classmates about any subject we chose. I lectured on nineteenth century literature.

Today, I’m an English professor. I also contribute to Wikipedia, editing articles about writers like Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, and Jane Austen, who wrote Pride and Prejudice.

When I think of my work on Wikipedia, I don't just think of myself as someone who adds information; I think of myself as a teacher. Through Wikipedia, my reach extends far beyond any classroom. In the past month alone, Wikipedia's article on Jane Austen has been viewed more than 144,000 times.

At my university, I have access to many quality resources. But most people can't access these sources; they’re hidden behind a paywall. By editing Wikipedia, I can help fix this injustice.

I love learning. I always have. Which is why I believe so strongly that it should be available to everyone.

Do you agree? Then please join me in supporting Wikipedia.

— Adrianne Wadewitz

Adrianne’s research is focused on 18th century British literature. As a postdoc for Digital Learning and Research, she also assists her colleagues in finding new ways to integrate Wikipedia into their classrooms.

Video Attribution: The Impact of Wikipedia - Adrianne Wadewitz by Victor Grigas, under CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported, from Wikimedia Commons.

Image Attribution: Adrianne Wadewitz by Karen Sayre, under CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported, from Wikimedia Commons.

Meet some of the editors of Wikipedia.

We would like to introduce you to some of the dedicated volunteers who you empower when you donate. It is our hope that after you read or hear a few of their stories, you'll want to join them in sharing your knowledge with the world by editing Wikipedia.

Poongothai
Mei Jiun
Ken
Oarabile

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