FamilySearch Wiki

FamilySearch Wiki:Wiki Contributor Updates Aug 2024

Aug 2024 Updates to Wiki Policies and Manual of Style

The following decisions were made by the Wiki Executive Council during the month of August 2024. It is summarized here to familiarize contributors with any changes to Wiki polices or formatting. A link to the policy regarding the decision is also provided.

Suspension of Editing Rights to Community Contributors


Problem:

  • Wiki Administration resources are too few to properly institute the plan to restructure the Wiki, train current FS staff contributors, and reformat pages.

Solution/Decision:

  • Suspend granting editing rights to new community contributors to free up time for Wiki Administration.



Wiki Pages Used as Class Handouts in the Wiki


Problem:

  • When the Wiki began, the decision to make Wiki pages syllabi and handouts for classes at conferences was made.
  • These older Wiki pages show broken links, as well as incorrect and outdated information regarding research.
  • There is no copyright of information when a handout is made into a Wiki page because of the Research Wiki Creative Commons license.
  • FamilySearch handouts cannot be copyrighted when it is a Wiki page (instead of a PDF). FamilySearch does not allow their class handouts to be published without a copyright statement.

Solution/Decision:

  • All old syllabi and handout Wiki pages will be audited and reviewed. Any relevant information will be added to a corresponding Wiki page. This is allowed because of the information published on a Wiki page using the Creative Commons license.
  • Bylines are not allowed on Wiki pages and this information will not be sourced or assigned to a specific speaker.
  • Once that information is gathered, these old syllabi and handout Wiki pages will be deleted.
  • Any information on a Wiki page can be referred to by class instructors or on FamilySearch handouts.
  • FamilySearch instructors are encouraged to add content to Wiki pages using the Manual of Style so users can locate the information in addition to their class handout.



PDF FamilySearch Handouts

Problem: Old PDF versions of FamilySearch class handouts are being indexed by Google, thus providing incorrect information to users.

Solution/Decision: To improve accuracy of information provided by the Wiki the following process will be implemented.

  • Any FamilySearch handouts that have been replaced by a newer version of a class handout will be deleted.
  • FamilySearch handouts older than 3 years will be reviewed for accuracy with the help of FSL specialists. If the information is still valid, a note will be added to the handout file page and it will remain in the Wiki until a future review.



Links to Archived Versions of Websites

Problem: Sometimes the information on a defunct website is not available on any other website.

Solution/Decision: Archived links (such as the Wayback Machine on Internet Archive) should not be used except in rare situations when the information cannot be retrieved elsewhere on the internet. All efforts to find the information on other websites and databases should be made. If a website cannot be found, use the following format to add the link to the Wiki page.

  • Format:
  • [URL PAGETITLE] at WEBSITENAME - archived page
  • Example:


  • Example in wikitext:
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20210727171649/https://www.virgo-fyn.dk/index.php/kirkeboger-odense-amt Kirkebøger i Odense Amt] at Virgo-Fyn - archived page



Books Published in Non-English Roman Languages

Problem:

  • Because the Research Wiki covers all countries of the world, many books helpful for research may not be in English.

Solution/Decision:

  • A format is needed to properly list books published in non-English Roman languages for those using the English Wiki.
  • Books published in Non-English Roman languages will be formatted with the title in the original language, but include an English translation of the title in parentheses immediately following the language title. This will provide the English speaker the necessary information to find the book.

Examples:

Example in wikitext:

*''La civilización española (Spanish Civilization)'' by Diego Marín. New York, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969. {{FSC|35150|item|disp=FS Catalog book 946 H2m}}; {{WorldCat|865704614|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}.



Titles in Non-Roman Alphabets

Problem:

  • Languages such as Arabic and Hebrew read right to left.
  • WikiMedia software does not handle Arabic and Hebrew, which reads right to left, on the same line as English, which reads left to right. It confuses the software.

Solution/Decision:

  • Unless designated as a translated Wiki page, English Wiki pages should always list English first in the first bullet. Then in the subsequent bullet (indenting), repeat the citation in the original language. This ensures the user will have the necessary information to locate a copy of the book.

Examples:

  • The Names of People in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (in Arabic), by Abu Aws Ibrahim Al-Shamsan. Riyadh: Al-Rushd Library, 2005. Online at: Archive.org; contains common Saudi personal and family names, including descriptions of how their pronunciation has changed due to Saudi Arabic dialects
  • أسماء الناس في المملكة العربية السعودية, أبو أوس إبراهيم الشمسان. الرياض: مكتبة الرشد, 2005.

Example in wikitext:

:*''The Names of People in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (in Arabic),'' by Abu Aws Ibrahim Al-Shamsan. Riyadh: Al-Rushd Library, 2005. '''''Online at:''''' [https://archive.org/details/asmaa.t.gg/mode/2up Archive.org]; contains common Saudi personal and family names, including descriptions of how their pronunciation has changed due to Saudi Arabic dialects
::*''أسماء الناس في المملكة العربية السعودية,''  أبو أوس إبراهيم الشمسان. الرياض: مكتبة الرشد, 2005.



Artificial Intelligence (AI) Images in the Wiki

Problem/Question:

  • Are Artificial Intelligence images allowed in the Wiki?

Solution/Decision:

  • Information entered into the Wiki should be as accurate as possible.
  • With current limitations of AI programs, images cannot be guaranteed to be historically accurate or portray people and images correctly. (i.e., persons pictured without faces).
  • Thus, no AI images will be allowed in the language Wikis.



FamilySearch Library (FSL); formerly called, Family History Library (FHL)

Link to an archived website. Page load time may be slow.

FamilySearch Center (FSC); formerly called, Family History Center (FHC)

FamilySearch Catalog (FS Catalog); formerly called, Family History Library Catalog (FHLC)

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