Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Reader's Circle
- The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.
The result was delete. Jujutacular talk 11:52, 11 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Reader's Circle (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log)
- (Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)
- Delete. Lacks in-depth coverage in reliable and independent sources. Brief mention or listing in refs provided. Does not meet WP:ORG or WP:GNG. Cind.amuse 10:59, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Keep. The two sources I've already cited are both independent and reliable. I can easily include additional secondary sources, but I didn't want to litter the article with newspaper references that I didn't feel added anything. As far as other web-based indicators that you might reconsider the organization, the site does have a Google pagerank of 7, the same as Meetup.com. Normanrobert (talk) 13:18, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Hi Norman. I agree that one of the references is from a reliable and independent sources (what appear as #2 right now). If you want to help save this article, I suggest finding a few more reliable and independent references that show significant coverage. It will be very helpful if the articles you find are viewable online for verification. As it stands, people will be weary as they won't be able to easily verify your references. As far as its Google search pagerank, Wikipedia doesn't use that information to establish notability at all. Without getting into a lengthy explanation, it's difficult to determine what number of hits is good enough or how high up the list a subject should be to establish notability. In my opinion, if you want to put this discussion to sleep, find 2 or 3 news articles from major news outlets, add those articles as references with links to them online. OlYellerTalktome 16:44, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
KeepDelete - There are currently 3 references listed on the article. The first is published by an organization that aims at creating more Reading Circles. I can see how it could be argued that the creation of this website shows a need that proves notability but I'm not going to make that argument. References number 2 is a chapter about Reader's Circles in what I consider to be a reliable and independent sources making this reliable, significant, and independent coverage. Reference #3 is an article from the WSJ that I found and will add a link for in the article. It doesn't mention Reader's Circle by name a single time so in my opinion, it does not help establish notability. Regardless, a Google News Archive search shows several hits for such organizations all over the US, alone. The work needs done but I believe that the subject is notable. OlYellerTalktome 16:44, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]- Comment: It appears that many of the results refer to the term "reader's circle" in the dictionary definition sense and not the "Reader's Circle" (in capital) website that is the subject of this article. --Kinu t/c 22:36, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Comment: Kinu, what is the "dictionary definition" of a "reader's circle"? As I show below, the term is an internationally registered trademark of Reader's Circle, Inc., and while I don't know how familiar you are with trademark law, one cannot register mere words out of the dictionary. "Book clubs" or "book group" could not be registered, for example. I would very seriously encourage you to look into this issue; I do not believe you have accurate information at all. In any case, if you do, you can certainly provide the "dictionary definition" of a "reader's circle" and the appropriate references. Normanrobert (talk) 02:50, 30 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Hi OlYeller, Thanks for helping me understand better how this works. The reason I included the WSJ article was that I felt it showed independence and it showed that the site had drawn attention, however minimal, fully 6 years ago. In any case, I added a dozen new references and I'm sure I can turn up still more if needed. Regards, Normanrobert (talk) 22:55, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Note: This debate has been included in the list of Organizations-related deletion discussions. -- • Gene93k (talk) 18:54, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Note: This debate has been included in the list of Websites-related deletion discussions. -- • Gene93k (talk) 18:54, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Delete. As indicated above, much of the citations are to reader's circles in terms of the "book club" definition of the term and not this particular website; results from Google News are similarly generic and do not refer to the subject of this article. The only references that seems to mention this website by name are (1) the WSJ article, but that again is a glossing mention in an article about the subject of reading circles in general and not in-depth coverage, and
(2) the Spirit of Service book, but based on an Amazon "look inside" it is mentioned once, on page 10, and is again not in-depth coverage.If anything, this article is more about the term (which could redirect to book discussion club, possibly) and the mention of the website that is ostensibly the subject of the first paragraph of the article seems unjustified, as it does not seem to meet WP:GNG and there is no sourced evidence that the genericized term "reader's circle" is a direct result of the efforts of this particular website. --Kinu t/c 22:42, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]- Actually, on a deeper look, the Spirit of Service book does not seem to mention this website at all; the direct quote is "Knowledge is power, and a neighborhood World News Reader's Circle is a way to empower a small group by combining the interests of the individuals." It appears that this is about the generic concept of a reading group, but does not convey notability to the website that is the subject of this article. --Kinu t/c 22:49, 29 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Lengthy discussion between editors regarding the references in the article
|
---|
|
- Delete per the lack of reliable sources. The sources do not cover Reader's Circle in sufficient depth to establish notability. Analysis of the sources in the article:
1. At 1,500 local book groups, MeetUp.com has a larger network but is a commercial site. – this is a footnote, not a source.
2. Handcock, Nancy. Spirit of Service: Your Daily Stimulus for Making a Difference, (HarperCollins: New York, 2008), p. 10. – The source states: "Go to www.readerscircle.org, an Internet resource that helps people organize and sustain reader's circles. The site has a wealth of information; you can also post a listing on the site to attract potential members and connect with authors who will speak with your group by phone." As Kinu (talk · contribs) notes above, this is a directory entry. Directory entries do not establish notability because they are not as calculated and selective as sources that purposefully delve into a specific topic.
3. Exclusive book clubs writing a new chapter in social status," Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2005. – Reader's Circle receives a tangential coverage in this source: "In New York, legal assistant Sarah Milks has a boldfaced posting on a Web site called readerscircle.org that starts off: NOT ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS AT THIS TIME. Despite that warning, 200 new applications have poured in over the past year, all but one of which were rejected." While a Wall Street Journal source generally establishes notability for a subject, Reader's Circle receives merely a one sentence mention. The remainder of the paragraph is about the group founded by Sarah Milks. In my opinion, the commentary about both Reader's Circle and Sarah Milk's group is of insufficient depth to establish notability for either of the topics.
4. Carter, Chelsea J. "Book clubs evolve as page-turners," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 6, 2007. – The source states:
The coverage here, as Cindamuse (talk · contribs) notes above, is trivial. Reader's Circle is mentioned as an example to the proposition by the article's author that book clubs are evolving as page-turners. The paragraph after the trivial discussion about Reader's Circle is:Norman Hicks founded Reader's Circle, a website aimed at promoting an alternative to the traditional book club, as a way to meet people after graduating college. Rather than have a group read one book and follow a structured format, Reader's Circle promotes bringing people together in public settings, such as coffeehouses, to discuss a variety of books at once.
"I think a lot of people were drawn to it because they could read what they want, talk about it and get suggestions for other books," said Hicks, 29.
Because Book's Circle is only mentioned in two sentences (excluding the founder's quote), along with similar website PaperBackSwap.com which is mentioned in a few more, there is not enough here to pass the bar of Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline, which requires significant coverage.It's that same idea behind PaperBackSwap.com, an online book club that allows members to trade their books with others. The site also makes a book-of-the-month selection and offers live online chats for its members to discuss books, said founder Richard Pickering of Atlanta.
5. Archibald Library, Rancho Cucamonga, CA – this is a link to a library that hosts Reader's Circle. It contains no coverage about Reader's Circle the website and would be discounted as a source even if it did because only secondary sources, not primary ones, count toward establishing notability.
6. Niles District Library, Niles, MI – this is also a library source; see #5.
7. Stanly County Public Library, Albemarle, NC – this is also a library source; see #5.
8. Rahway Public Library, Rahway, NJ – this is also a library source; see #5.
9. Clarington Public Library, Bomanville, Ontario, Canada – this is also a library source; see #5.
10. Brantford Public Library, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – this is also a library source; see #5.
11. Richmond Library, North Yorkshire County, United Kingdom – this is also a library source; see #5.
12. Eagle Harbor Book Co. Reader's Circle, Bainbridge Island, WA – this is a source from an independent bookstore; see #5.
13. Socially Speaking, Garden City News April 4, 2008 – The source states:
Tangential coverage in the "Notices" section of a community newspaper is not enough to pass the notability guidelines. Second, it is original research to use this source and the next two to verify that "The term has passed into common usage, appearing in press announcements as a taken-for-granted expression."Joan Kuster and Edith Trestik will be hostesses for the Tuesday, April 8 th Reader's Circle at the Garden City Community Church. The book will be "Broken" by William Coper Moyers , a former resident of this Village. They will meet at 12 noon and it sounds very interesting.
14. Literary Week, Salisbury Post, April 11, 2010 – The source states:
This is a community listing like the previous source.Book Club discussion of "Twilight." Tuesday, 12:15 p.m., Room 2234, RCCC South Campus. The Reader's Circle Book Club will read "Twilight," by Stephenie Meyer. This book was selected with RCCC students in mind, but everyone's invited. Discussion will emphasize characterization, heroism and the contrast of the film version. Contact Amelia Likin at likina@rowancabarrus.edu.- "Faculty Writes" panel discussion. Wednesday at 3 p.m., Room 106, South Campus.
15. TheBokenOnline.com, March 16, 2011 – The source states:
This source is also a community listing like the previous two sources.The Reader’s Circle, a Hoboken book club has their next event for this Thursday March 17th at 7PM to discuss the book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce.
The Reader’s Circle book group meets at 7:00PM in All Saints Church at 701 Washington Street in Hoboken, NJ. The Reader’s Circle is a community event. All book lovers are welcome. Free coffee and cake is offered at each monthly event. For more information email: readerscircle123@aol.com.The references are either primary sources or passing mentions, neither of which enable Reader's Circle to pass Wikipedia:Notability. A Google News Archive search returns mostly directory-type mentions or unrelated results. Likewise, a Google Books search also returns trivial mentions.
I appreciate the work Normanrobert (talk · contribs) has spent crafting this article and responding to the arguments for deletion here. However, because the sources lack the depth and reliability mandated by Wikipedia:Notability, this article must be deleted. Should Normanrobert find secondary reliable sources that provide significant coverage about Reader's Circle, the article may be recreated. Cunard (talk) 10:31, 10 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Hard to argue with that. Good work sir. OlYellerTalktome 20:46, 10 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Thank you. I initially intended to support keeping the article when I saw the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times articles. However, after I looked more deeply, I found that they did not constitute significant coverage. I posted such a long rationale to hopefully bring closure to this overdue deadlock.
Normanrobert, Reader's Circle can be recreated if significant coverage is found. See the three references at Starfall (website) for example. Though Starfall has few sources, it has received enough coverage in third-party reliable sources to pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline. Three reliable publications devoted entire articles discussing it. Quality is more important than quantity. If you can locate three third-party reliable sources (e.g. newspaper or magazine articles) that devote five or more paragraphs of at least five sentences each (excluding quotes) to explicitly discussing Reader's Circle the international organization (and not the local chapters), then Reader's Circle will pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline and the article may be restored. If you find those three references, feel free to leave a note on my talk page, so I can review them. I will even write the article for you so that you will not have to worry about Wikipedia:Conflict of interest and Wikipedia:Neutral point of view. Cunard (talk) 09:47, 11 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]
- Thank you. I initially intended to support keeping the article when I saw the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times articles. However, after I looked more deeply, I found that they did not constitute significant coverage. I posted such a long rationale to hopefully bring closure to this overdue deadlock.
- The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.