Wikipedia:WikiProject Libraries/Introduction

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This page is intended to serve as an introduction to how Wikipedia works specifically aimed at Librarians, part of WikiProject Libraries.

Introduction for librarians wishing to use Wikipedia

Wikipedia can be a great tool for learning and researching information. However, as with all reference works, not everything in Wikipedia is accurate, comprehensive, or unbiased. Many of the general rules of thumb for conducting research apply to Wikipedia, including:

Always be wary of any one single source (in any medium — web, print, television or radio), or of multiple works that derive from a single source.
Where articles have references to external sources (whether online or not) read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says.
In most academic institutions, major references to Wikipedia, along with most encyclopedias, are unacceptable for a research paper. Other encyclopedias, such as Encyclopædia Britannica, have notable authors working for them and may be cited as a secondary source in most cases. For example, Cornell University has a guide on how to cite encyclopedias.

However, because of Wikipedia's unique nature, there are also some rules for conducting research that are special to Wikipedia, and some general rules that do not apply to Wikipedia.

Some pages that may be useful:

Wikipedia as a source

Editing Wikipedia

Main articles: Tutorial, Be bold!, Contributing, Contributing FAQ, Editing, How to edit.

The Wikipedia community

Main article: Community Portal.

Authority and administration

Main articles: Dispute resolution, Administration of Wikipedia and Power structure of Wikipedia.

If you're new to Wikipedia, you may have gained the impression from descriptions you've read that it is pure anarchy. But Wikipedia defies classification in that it mixes anarchy, democracy, meritocracy, peer review, with a rare drop of benevolent dictatorship. Except for in extreme cases (see dispute resolution, below) the editorial content of Wikipedia is decided by what the references say is true, and what the community says is notable and encyclopaedic.

Wikipedia has a large number of administrators. Administrators are experienced and trusted users, but the title does not automatically convey editorial power: admins are expected to defend their editing in the same way as all editors are, and in everyday Wikipedia editing you will not usually notice who is and isn't an admin. Administrators are given tools and duties not open to other users, but these are mainly for the purpose of tidying up Wikipedia rather than controlling editorial content.

Wikipedia has a system of dispute resolution for occasions when two or more editors are unable resolve their editing conflicts. Note that the dispute process is focused on solving problematic behavior from editors, trying to elicit consensus and cooperation based on the citation of sources and adherence to the neutral point of view policy. The mediators and arbitrators involved in the system do not hand down decisions on content from on high, although like any other editor they may participate in discussion that does lead to solutions for content disputes. The arbitrators, an elected committee of experienced Wikipedians, have the power to ban problematic users in extreme cases.