User:2TeachWiki/Wikipedia Basics

What Wikipedia is and what it is not

What Wikipedia is not

Wikipedia is not a dictionary
Wikipedia is not a publisher of original thought
Wikipedia is not a soapbox or means of promotion
Wikipedia is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files
Wikipedia is not a blog, web hosting service, social networking service, or memorial site
Wikipedia is not a directory
Wikipedia is not a manual, guidebook, textbook, or scientific journal
Wikipedia is not a crystal ball
Wikipedia is not a newspaper
Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information
Wikipedia is not censored

More details at Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not

What Wikipedia is: Five Pillars of Wikipedia

The fundamental principles of Wikipedia may be summarized in five "pillars":

Wikipedia is an encyclopedia: It combines many features of general and specialized encyclopedias, almanacs, and gazetteers. Wikipedia is not a soapbox, an advertising platform, a vanity press, an experiment in anarchy or democracy, an indiscriminate collection of information, or a web directory. It is not a dictionary, a newspaper, or a collection of source documents, although some of its fellow Wikimedia projects are.

Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view: We strive for articles that document and explain major points of view, giving due weight with respect to their prominence in an impartial tone. We avoid advocacy and we characterize information and issues rather than debate them. In some areas there may be just one well-recognized point of view; in others, we describe multiple points of view, presenting each accurately and in context rather than as "the truth" or "the best view". All articles must strive for verifiable accuracy, citing reliable, authoritative sources, especially when the topic is controversial or is on living persons. Editors' personal experiences, interpretations, or opinions do not belong.

Wikipedia is free content that anyone can use, edit, and distribute: Since all editors freely license their work to the public, no editor owns an article and any contributions can and will be mercilessly edited and redistributed. Respect copyright laws, and never plagiarize from sources. Borrowing non-free media is sometimes allowed as fair use, but strive to find free alternatives first.

Editors should treat each other with respect and civility: Respect your fellow Wikipedians, even when you disagree. Apply Wikipedia etiquette, and don't engage in personal attacks. Seek consensus, avoid edit wars, and never disrupt Wikipedia to illustrate a point. Act in good faith, and assume good faith on the part of others. Be open and welcoming to newcomers. Should conflicts arise, discuss them calmly on the appropriate talk pages, follow dispute resolution procedures, and consider that there are 6,914,695 other articles on the English Wikipedia to improve and discuss.

Wikipedia has no firm rules: Wikipedia has policies and guidelines, but they are not carved in stone; their content and interpretation can evolve over time. The principles and spirit matter more than literal wording, and sometimes improving Wikipedia requires making exceptions. Be bold but not reckless in updating articles. And do not agonize over making mistakes: every past version of a page is saved, so mistakes can be easily corrected.

Why Wikipedia is important to libraries and cultural institutions

Elder, Danielle, R. Niccole Westbrook, and Michele Reilly. 2012. “Wikipedia Lover, Not a Hater: Harnessing Wikipedia to Increase the Discoverability of Library Resources.” Journal of Web Librarianship 6 (1): 32–44.

Szajewski, Michael. 2013. “Using Wikipedia to Enhance the Visibility of Digitized Archival Assets.” D-Lib Magazine 19 (3/4).

“From Audience to Authorship to Authority: Using Wikipedia to Strengthen Research and Critical Thinking Skills | ACRL 2013 Virtual Conference.” 2015. Accessed October 14. http://www.learningtimes.net/acrl/2013/from-audience-to-authorship-to-authority-using-wikipedia-to-strengthen-research-and-critical-thinking-skills/.

The Anatomy of a Wikipedia Page

How to Navigate - The Tabs

You may not have even noticed but the tab you usually see by default when on Wikipedia is Article.

Talk pages - Why they are important

Tabs for Editing

The main tabs are Read, Edit, Edit Source and View History