FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Updating U.S. Archives and Libraries Topic Pages

Current Projects page Updating U.S. Archives and Libraries Topic Pages

PURPOSE
Adding and updating content on existing Archives and Libraries topic pages for the United States.

CONTACT
Jane Colmenares

Task List Page
Task List page

INSTRUCTIONS
Video Instructions

1. Go to the Updating U.S. Archives and Libraries Topic Pages Task List page and put your name on the list for the state you wish to work on.

2. On the Task List page, click on the state you have chosen and review the topic list on the left side of the page. You should see an Archives and Libraries topic wiki page on the list. Click on the link to go to the wiki page.

3. Each state version of the Archives and Libraries page will be different. Go through each step to update information or reformat the page to provide a better experience for the user.

NOTE: For an example of a corrected Archives and Libraries page, go to Iowa Archives and Libraries

Step One - Change Headings
1. Each archive and library listed on the page should show up in the table of contents on the page. If there is no table of contents or those repositories do not show up, use the instructions below to adjust the information on the page to make it conform.

NOTE: You must be in wikitext to make these changes. To do so, click on Edit and when the Format bar appears, click on "Wikitext" in the top left corner.

2. Depending on what is already on the page, make each repository a heading. Usually it will be a heading 4. Copy the following and replace, "repository" with the correct name of the repository.


 * ==== repository ====

Example of correct heading in wikitext:


 * ==== Wisconsin Historical Society ====

3. If the title of the repository is already linked to it's website, you can leave it as a link. But be sure to also add the Website link after the address and e-mail information. It can be difficult to tell when a heading is a link. This ensures the user to find what they are looking for. Use Step Three to create a website link.

4. Add a heading for each repository already on the page using the instructions above.

Step Two - Check for broken links
5. Check each link on the Archives and Libraries wiki page to make sure they work and go to the correct website for the repository.

6. If a link is broken, do a Google search to help you locate the correct URL. For example, if the link to the Alabama Department of Archives and History was incorrect, you would Google the phrase: Alabama Department of Archives and History website.

7. With the new URL from your Google search, use the directions in Step Three to correct the broken link.

Step Three - Correct website links
8. Change any exposed URLs so that the full URL does not appear. Put the URL after the address and e-mail address on the page. Copying the URL, use the following wikitext code to add or fix the information already on the page. You can copy the following and replace the "URL" with the full URL link to the repository.


 * [URL Website]

Example of correct URL link in wikitext:


 * Website

Step Four - Check contact information
9. Clicking on the correct website link you found in Step Three, review the contact information located on the wiki page. If an e-mail address is missing but is found on the repository's website, add it by using the directions in Step Five below.

10. Make any necessary changes to incorrect information on the wiki page.

Step Five - Make e-mail addresses clickable links
11. If there is an e-mail address for the repository, make the e-mail address into a clickable link. The e-mail address goes directly after the address of the repository. To fix or add the e-mail address link, copy the following and replace "e-mail address" with the correct e-mail address.


 * E-mail: [mailto:e-mailaddress e-mail address]

Example of correct link for e-mail address in wikitext:


 * E-mail: [mailto:askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org]

Step Six - Add info about collections
12. If only contact information is found on the wiki page, go to the repository website to see if information could be located regarding the collections available - whether online or at the repository. Write a brief description of what is available in a bullet list or a VERY short paragraph below the contact information. This information can include specific genealogical collections, instructions on how to use the facility, any fees necessary to access the collections, or anything else that is helpful for the user. When adding a bullet list, in wikitext use a colon before the bullet (asterisk in wikitext) to make it indent. This helps with the display of information. Below is an example of wikitext and what displays on the wiki page. Try to keep each statement short and to the point for easy reference. The user can always go to the repository website to get more clarification. The following examples of descriptions are found on the Iowa Archives and Libraries wiki page.

Wikitext:

As it appears on the page:

Step Seven - Look for additional repositories
13. If the list of repositories on the Archives and Libraries wiki page looks incomplete or lacks a state historical society/library (sometimes they are the same) or regional archives, do a Google search to see if any more can be located. If one is found, add the information.

You can also use the following websites to help you determine other state and regional archives and libraries for your state:


 * List of State Archives
 * List of State Historical Societies

EXAMPLE OF COMPLETED ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES PAGE
For an example of a corrected Archives and Libraries page, go to Iowa Archives and Libraries.