User:Iluvhistory66/Sandbox/Proofread Sandbox 48

What should this page be called?
Can we pick one and move all the below content (that is from the 3 pages) into one?
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Appropriate Topics
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Policies
 * FamilySearch Wiki:Guiding Principles

Other Options: FamilySearch Wiki:Principles and Procedures FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose, Policies, and Ground Rules FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Policies FamilySearch Wiki:Purpose and Official Policies


 * How does it compare to this page: FamilySearch Wiki:FamilySearch Research Wiki

What the Wiki is
The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online genealogical guide created and maintained by FamilySearch, a non-profit organization. It contains links to genealogy databases, websites, resources, as well as, research strategies, and other genealogical guidance tools to assist in the search for your ancestors. Articles included on the Wiki are locality pages for countries around the world that contain topic pages which include pertinent genealogy record types explaining how to use the record, what it contains, and how/where to find it to find it.

Who Maintains the Wiki
FamilySearch owns and maintains The Wiki. FamilySearch relies on volunteers to help update Wiki content and patrol edits made to the Wiki. Genealogical community members are welcome to add and update content on the Wiki. [To request editing rights.] Because of the enormous amount of Wiki articles, FamilySearch cannot promise content found on any Wiki page is current or correct. Like any wiki, FamilySearch relies on the community to help locate incorrect information and identify broken links. The genealogical community can edit the information themselves or report it to FamilySearch [link to report a problem].

Sourcing and citing information help to establish the validity of the content, but no guarantees can be made regarding records and access owing to changing laws. Archives restructure, physically and organizationally, on a continual basis. It is not possible or reasonable to expect the information in the Wiki to always be accurate.

FamilySearch Terms of Use require contributors not to use the Wiki as a forum to conjecture, gossip, or debate about the priorities, motives, processes, policies, or competence of FamilySearch or its personnel. These activities fall outside of the scope and use of this site and may result in loss of contributor privileges.

Content Allowed on the Wiki
(we are having an offsite to determine this but here is suggested list so far)


 * Links to free and subscription websites regarding genealogy databases, records, images, websites, research strategies, repositories, archives, government agencies, finding aids to other collections, or anything else helpful to a user to locate their ancestors.
 * Genealogical research strategies and guidance
 * Instructions on how to find, use and analyze records that are genealogically useful.
 * Historical definitions of legal terms, occupations and other terms that are useful to genealogists.
 * Images: Includes samplings of genealogical records, images of historical interest, current and historical maps.

Research Wiki Projects

 * Locality pages: containing information about records, strategies and topics specific to a location in locating records about ancestors. This may include all jurisdictions, including countries, states, counties, parishes, provinces, departments, etc.
 * Libraries and FamilySearch Affiliate Library Wiki pages
 * FamilySearch Center/Library Wiki pages Go to: Help:Updating a Family History Page for information regarding what is allowed on a center/library Wiki page.
 * Guided Research: project maintained solely by FamilySearch to assist researchers starting research in a locality
 * Historical Records Collection pages : Explain the scope of the collection and examples of relevant information is contained therein.
 * Genealogical and historical society pages

Wiki Content Policies

 * Creative Common License: Written content on the Wiki is under Creative Commons license. Exceptions include some FamilySearch images that are copyrighted. Be sure to view the license attached to any FamilySearch images before using or sharing to avoid violating copyright laws.
 * Neutral Point of View: The Wiki is written from a neutral point of view representing fairly and without bias all significant views of family history related topics that have been published by reliable sources.

Content not allowed in the Wiki
The Wiki should not include the following:
 * Discussions of religion, politics, ethnicity, culture, and history except in relation to family history research and record keeping.
 * Images and files of record sets of source documents except when showing sample documents, especially associated with Historical Records collections.
 * Biographical information about an individual, unless it's used to describe a record or used in a case study to illustrate a research process or principle.
 * Data sets and genealogical records, such as obituaries, military histories, or transcriptions of record sources.
 * Lists of individuals in index form or a repository of individual information.
 * Personal points of view, opinions, arguments, testimonials or stories of research experiences.
 * Advertising or reviews of products or services.
 * Edit wars and fighting over competing viewpoints.
 * Profanity or profane slang in any form or language.
 * Poems, speeches, or other narrative text.
 * Holidays and family traditions. Those which affect family history records or research methods are mentioned under specific countries/localities.
 * Religious doctrine or advocacy, or criticism of religious practices.
 * Doctrine and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is inappropriate to include this information on FamilySearch center/libraries Wiki pages.
 * Internal policies or contact information of FamilySearch International.
 * Contact information for business affiliates of FamilySearch International.
 * Criticism of FamilySearch or any of its business operations.

What you agree to by using the Wiki

 * When you edit the Research Wiki, you agree to abide by the FamilySearch Terms of Use: Conditions of Use
 * System notifications from the Wiki: You may receive email notifications from the FamilySearch Research Wiki concerning watched pages, messages left on your user talk page, and when your Wiki role changes. Use the instructions found on the Notifications Wiki page to change your notification preferences.

Contributor Expectations
We anticipate contributors will add relevant content to the Wiki pages they edit. This may include: Final determination about the appropriateness of content rests with FamilySearch.
 * Information on records access, arrangement, scope, finding aids, and other information pertinent to the topic.
 * Research strategies and methodologies.
 * Research facilities, societies, and record repositories.

Behaviors Not allowed

 * Soliciting feedback or collecting suggestions regarding the development of products.
 * Using bots, or programs that update pages automatically, without prior consent from FamilySearch management. Bots provisions
 * Posting copyrighted material.
 * Do not revert any page or any part of a page more than three times within 24 hours. Doing so may lead to an administrator revoking or limiting contributor privileges.
 * Anything that is added, removed, or changed in the Wiki that is an attempt to compromise the integrity of the Wiki is vandalism and will be rectified. This may include loss of editing privileges.

Users who fail to obey policy and who do not follow the FamilySearch Research Wiki Conditions of Use will be blocked from contributing to the Wiki. This includes, disruptive users, those who deliberately fan controversy, or who maliciously attack members of the community, community standards, or FamilySearch including on user Wiki pages. Blocking may be temporary or permanent as determined by FamilySearch.

Disputes between contributors regarding editing and behavior

 * Disputes between members. When disputes arise between community members they are strongly encouraged to talk together and resolve their differences without using mediation or arbitration.
 * Mediation. A process available for request when disputes between members cannot be resolved on their own.
 * Arbitration. A committee of administrators will form the arbitration board. Arbitration is needed when disputes about user conduct are reported. The decisions made by the Arbitration Board are final. However, a community member may Appeal to the Arbitration Board for decisions on deletions of content, blocking or banning. Appeals of arbitration board decisions are sent to FamilySearch Directors. There is no appeal beyond that level.