Wikisource

 

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What is Wikisource? How is it used? Please explain for an audience that is not familiar with Wikisource. 

Thanks. 

Imagine a giant, free online library that anyone can contribute to. That's Wikisource in a nutshell! It's a project by the Wikimedia Foundation, the same folks behind Wikipedia, but instead of focusing on articles summarizing information, Wikisource focuses on providing the source materials themselves.

Here's what you can find on Wikisource:

Historical documents: Think founding declarations, speeches by famous figures, or important legal documents.

Literary works: This could be classic novels, poems, or plays that are now out of copyright.

Other writings: They also have letters, diaries, and even some scripts or recordings.

The key thing is that everything on Wikisource is either public domain (meaning the copyright has expired) or has a license that allows free sharing.

So how do people use it? There are a few main ways:

Research: If you're studying history or literature, Wikisource is a goldmine for primary source documents. You can see the original text of the Declaration of Independence, or compare different versions of a famous poem.

Reading: Wikisource is a great place to find and read classic works that you might not be able to find elsewhere for free.

Contributing: If you're passionate about preserving historical documents or making classic works accessible, you can even help out by proofreading existing texts or adding new ones!

Since it's a wiki, it's important to remember that the information on Wikisource may not be edited as actively as something like Wikipedia. However, it's a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the original sources of our history and culture.

How can someone contribute to Wikisource? What are requirements for adding content to wikisource? 

Contributing to Wikisource involves working with texts that are already out of copyright or freely licensed. Here's a breakdown of the essentials:

Finding the Text:

Check if the work is already on Wikisource by searching.

The text must be public domain in both the United States and the author's original country.

Adding the Text:

If it's not there, you can find a scan (digital copy) online, like on the Internet Archive, or create your own scan (check their guide for proper scanning [Richt Help:Digitising texts and images for Wikisource]).

Upload the scan to Wikimedia Commons, the central image repository for Wikimedia projects.

Building the Wikisource Page:

Create an index page for the scan on Wikisource.

Proofread the transcribed text, ensuring accuracy. (Someone else will also need to validate your work later.)

Once proofread and validated, move the work to the main namespace on Wikisource.

Add finishing touches like author information, categorization, and links to relevant Wikipedia articles.

General Requirements:

You'll need to create a free Wikimedia account to contribute.

Familiarity with Wikisource's markup system is helpful, but they have a Beginner's guide to adding texts: [Help:Beginner's guide to adding texts - Wikisource, the free online library] to walk you through the process.

Patience is key! Contributing can involve multiple steps and collaboration with other editors.

Remember, Wikisource is a community effort. By contributing, you're helping to preserve cultural heritage and make knowledge freely accessible to everyone.

Is there a time line as to when historic documents become royalty free and usable for wikisource? 

The timeline for historic documents becoming royalty-free (public domain) and usable for Wikisource depends on the specific document and where it was created:

United States: Generally, works published before January 1, 1929, are now in the public domain in the US (as of January 1, 2024). This applies to documents you might find on Wikisource. The term of copyright protection keeps getting longer, so the exact date will change for future years.

Other Countries: Copyright laws vary around the world. Wikisource usually only accepts content that is public domain in both the United States and the author's original country. This is to ensure the work can be freely shared globally.

Here are some resources to help you figure out the copyright status of a specific document:

The U.S. Copyright Office: https://www.copyright.gov/ They have a helpful resource on determining copyright duration.

Wikipedia Copyright Articles: They have articles on copyright law in different countries, which can give you a general idea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights).

For Wikisource Specifically:

They have a helpful page outlining their requirements for adding content, which includes information on copyright (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Help:Beginner%27s_guide_to_adding_texts).

Remember, navigating copyright can be complex. If you're unsure about a document's status, it's always best to err on the side of caution and avoid using it on Wikisource.