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 Page
Task List

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

2. On the task list, click on the state and review the topic list on the left side of the page. You should see a Archives and Libraries 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.

Step One - Change Headings
1. Each archive and library should show up in the table of contents on the page. Add the following to the page and 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 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.


 * ==== repository ====

Example of correct heading in wikitext:


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

3. If the title of the repository is already linked, you can leave it as a link. But be sure to add the Website link after the address and e-mail information. It can be difficult to tell when a heading is a link. So we want it in both places. Use Step Three to create a website link.

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

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

3. If a link is broken, use Google 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.

4. Use the directions in Step Three to correct the broken link.

Step Three - Correct website links
5. If the repository link shows the full URL, you must change it. After the address and e-mail address, add the following and replacing "URL" with the full URL link to the repository.


 * [URL Website]

Example of correct URL link in wikitext:


 * Website

Step Four - Check contact information
6. Clicking on the correct website link you found in Step Three, review the contact information found already 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.

7. Make any necessary changes to incorrect information.

Step Five - Make e-mail addresses clickable links
6. If there is an e-mail address for the repository, make the e-mail address into a clickable link. Change the information to by copying the following and replace "e-mail address" with the correct e-mail address.


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

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


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

Step Six - Add info about collections
7. 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. The following examples of descriptions are found on the Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries wiki page.

Step Seven - Look for additional repositories
8. If the list of repositories 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.

8.

To add the website, below the e-mail address, highlight the word "Website" and click on the Link button on the edit bar. Paste in the website link in the "Link" field and click "ok."

Once you have completed an entire county, go back to the Task List and enter the completed date.