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May 2026 Newsletter, Volume 211
Jun. 5th, 2026 02:17 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
otw_news_feedI. SPOTLIGHT ON OPEN DOORS
Open Doors is preparing to import ArtisticAlley, the last FictionAlley house. Unfortunately, they’ve only been able to retrieve thumbnail versions of the artworks. They’re currently asking creators if they can provide copies of the full versions. If you’re an ArtisticAlley creator and can provide your full artworks—or would like Open Doors to do anything other than import the thumbnail copies—please check your emails and reply, or get in touch with Open Doors directly. They will begin importing after 30 June.
In May, Open Doors also announced the import of multifandom fanfiction archive Mediafans and its hosted Duncan/Methos zine Futures Without End. They also completed the semi-automated portion of the import of HBO Oz archive Unit B, with more works being imported manually in the coming months. These additional works comprise Big Bang fics, the Unit B Yahoo Group, and the Cellblock 5 Yahoo Group. Thank you to everyone on Open Doors’ technical and administrative teams who contributed!
II. ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN
Accessibility, Design & Technology worked on more security updates as well as quality-of-life bug fixes and AO3 internationalization work. Thank you to the coders for those fixes and to the testers for helping with swift releases! They also published release notes for March.
In April, Policy & Abuse (PAC) received 4,358 tickets. PAC also worked with Communications to publish a news post spotlighting ways to keep your AO3 account secure as part of World Password Day. Also in April, Support received 4,325 tickets. User Response Translation completed 77 requests from PAC and Support.
Tag Wrangling wrangled over 638,000 tags in April, or approximately 1,300 tags per wrangling volunteer. They also collaborated with Communications to publish a Tumblr post about a new Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom metatag and a news post announcement of 21 new “No Fandom” tags.
III. ELSEWHERE AT THE OTW
Fanlore celebrated Public Domain Fandoms, or Public DoMay, on their socials all throughout the month! Check out their Bluesky, Tumblr, and Twitter/X for fun featured articles and posts.
Their annual Bingo Challenge also will begin on June 16 and will end June 29! It’s open to new and experienced editors alike, and everyone is encouraged to join in!
Legal continues to answer internal and external questions and monitor the changing legal situation for privacy and free speech.
TWC continued to work on their planned issues related to Music Fandom and Latin American Fandoms. May was the deadline for nominations for the Fans of Color Research Prize, which recognizes the best article about fans and/or fandoms of color published in TWC. The next issue will be a general issue published in September.
IV. GOVERNANCE
Elections continues to prepare for the 2026 OTW Board of Directors election, which will fill four seats (three full term seats and one partial term seat).
If you’d like to vote this year, you must become an OTW member by June 30. To become a member, you must donate at least $10 USD in one donation and check the yes circle under “Do you want to be an OTW member?” on the donation form.
Board, Board Assistants Team, and Organizational Culture Roadmap spent the month collaborating on projects, including sharing the Code of Conduct draft for review from OTW volunteers and working on tasks related to closing out the OTW Crisis Management Plan project.
Finance completed the audit of the OTW’s 2024 financials and began preparing our 2025 financials to be audited.
Development & Membership worked on wrap up from the April Membership Drive and began thinking ahead to the next one in October.
V. OUR VOLUNTEERS
In May, Volunteers & Recruiting opened recruitment for four roles for the Fanlore, Communications, and Open Doors committees.
From April 22 to May 23, Volunteers & Recruiting received 202 new requests, and completed 177, leaving them with 70 open requests. As of May 23, 2026, the OTW has 1,040 volunteers. \o/ Recent personnel movements are listed below.
New Communications Volunteers: 2 Event Coordinators and 1 Fanhackers Volunteer
New Open Doors Volunteers: 1 Senior Technical Advisor and 1 Digital Collections Intern
New Policy & Abuse Volunteers: Arashi, Bellis, Citrine, lazyredheeler, Rika G, SaltDove, ZoeT, and 3 other Volunteers
New User Response Translation Volunteers: 1 Translator
Departing Committee Chairs/Leads: 1 Policy & Abuse Chair and 1 Organizational Culture Roadmap Head
Departing Communications Volunteers: 1 Fanhackers Lead and 2 Convention Specialists
Departing Fanlore Volunteers: 1 Gardener
Departing Finance Volunteers: 1 Financial Analyst
Departing Open Doors Volunteers: 1 Senior Technical Volunteer and 1 Import Assistant
Departing Policy & Abuse Volunteers: 1 Volunteer
Departing Tag Wrangling Volunteers: Allonym and 15 other Tag Wrangling Volunteers
Departing Translation Volunteers: Katarina Hjarpe and 1 other Translator
Departing Volunteers & Recruiting Volunteers: 1 Volunteer
For more information about our committees and their regular activities, you can refer to the committee pages on our website.
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