Help:Wiki University--Patrolling Guidelines

What to look for when patrolling

 * Namespace is properly written and spelled
 * All links are blue (working)
 * Breadcrumbs
 * SEO properly written
 * Category(ies) present and correct
 * Wikitext and format generally working

Content
Content is consistent with Wiki guiding principles.

Cases requiring special handling
Before you begin patrolling, you need to know that some pages are handled differently than the mainstream. Here's a list of the ones you will run into most often: Note: serious content problems trump the special instructions above (don't forget, anyone can edit a Wiki page, add links, etc.)

Handling problematic content
Other actions you may want to take at any time:
 * Email user (link under Tools in the left sidebar on the user's page) or put comment on the user's talk page if warranted
 * Refer user to guiding principles
 * Educate by referring to lessons in Wiki University
 * Add to watchlist (be sure to take it off at some point!)
 * Refer for temporary or permanent blocking if issues are egregious or issue repeats after E-mails

Patrolling Talk pages

 * On Talk pages, after ensuring that the policies and guidelines are followed, we are also looking for:


 * Questions that patrons ask
 * Problems, concerns, or other issues that may need to be resolved
 * Trends that may indicate larger concerns or issues to resolve

Your patrolling resources
These are a few of the resources, references and tools you can use to help you patrol:

People

 * Your mentor, instructor, or companion
 * Other team members
 * Use Skype if quick, non-policy response needed
 * Use Yammer if policy response needed or more general input needed (may take longer)

Helpful links to provide users

 * Try another wiki
 * Message Boards
 * or search specifically by geographical location and compiled genealogies

Patrolling Aids

 * Maintenance templates (for issues that need to be handled by someone else)
 * Watchlist (to flag an article to monitor future changes)
 * User information User page, Talk page, User contributions, User email link
 * Major article changes:
 * Move page To retitle correctly. First check pages that link there and ensure you won't be creating a double redirect. You must have authority to move pages. Ask if unsure.
 * Rollback Cancels all changes made by the most recent user back to the prior user. This is helpful for issues such as a blanked page or significant format corruption. Caution: cannot be undone.
 * Undo Reverses the most recent change. This can be reversed.
 * Block user Refer user for temporary or permanent blocking because user does not comply with Wiki guiding principles. Generally only done after warnings and failure to comply, although in egregious cases (advertising or pornography links, etc.) may be done immediately. Must be done by a designated administrator.

Try these out


 Quick Quiz

What to look for when patrolling:


 * All links are black (working).


 * True
 * False


 * Some pages are handled differently than the mainstream. Which of the following should you not ignore?


 * A. FamilySearch Indexing pages
 * B. Missouri Genealogy pages
 * C. FamilySearch Indexing pages
 * D. A and C


 * Serious content problems always follow the special handling guidelines.


 * True
 * False


 * After commenting about a submission problem on a user's Talk page, what should you do?


 * A. Move on to the next patrolling item
 * B. Place a watch on the page


 * A person using derogatory statements should be banned immediately.


 * True
 * False

Check your answers