Wikisource talk:WikiProject Social media

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Suggestions (remove if so desired)[edit]

Several decades ago I was on GEnie and one of the most popular places was "Creative Writing". We may want to consider this for WPSM. It attracts people to an area and many participate. In doing so WPSM will be there to assist in ideas and PD illustrations. OR perhaps we may want to illustrate texts that are all text and never had illustrations due to costs of ink, printing, binding, et cetera. William Maury Morris II (talk) 19:03, 9 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Facebook[edit]

The existing Facebook page does not follow the rules outlined here, but is a total anarchy with many page admins, which so far has worked just fine. Considering that this page exists and works (except that few people actually write updates), which problems are you trying to solve? --LA2 (talk) 03:12, 23 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

My statement above is a *suggestion* not a problem to be solved. However, with what you have written and asked I would say the problem is, as you provide, solving an absence of any cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose. I myself do not like "total anarchy". If the FB "page" works with its many administrators then there is no problem to be solved, or is there? It exists and it works. I haven't looked at FB lately due to working on my own suggestion above. Kind regards, --William Maury Morris II (talk) 04:12, 23 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
You don't need a Facebook account to take a look at facebook.com/Wikisource. That's what it looks like. It has a timeline of events and occasional news updates. That's all. 140 Facebook accounts are "fans" of the page (follow its updates; the 100th fan joined on May 14) and more than a dozen are "admins", which means they can write updates. So far, I see no need for more complicated rules. --LA2 (talk) 19:42, 23 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I am not offended nor annoyed in any manner, but why are you telling me these things? I already know Wikisource is on Facebook and I am not there making any rules. I am not even there looking at WS on FB but I have had a FB account for a very long time. I have had one so long that I don't use it any longer. Instead, I am always here on WS itself. --William Maury Morris II (talk) 22:25, 23 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Eliyak & LA2 & anyone else—what happened with all of the wonderful ideas about adding WS to Social Media? Is any of it growing on FB itself or is it confined to privacy? --William Maury Morris II (talk) 19:53, 28 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Pinterest[edit]

I am not sure how or if Pinterest could be part of our social media plans but browsing the internet led me to pinterest.com/source/en.wikisource.org. - AdamBMorgan (talk) 12:51, 6 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]


This is beautiful—exactly what WS needs—beautiful illustrations to go with a Sea of Text.William Maury Morris II (talk) 12:46, 21 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Managers and voting[edit]

Sorry, I missed the managers subpage until recently; I've voted now. The transitional government might be in place for some time. Wikiprojects don't seem to get a lot of traffic, although this might change once several external social media sites start being promoted here. I realise there is a risk of losing control of social media but I'd say the conditions for election are a little harsh, much stronger than those for administrators for example. I would recommened that, when it come to it, confirmation of existing managers runs like administrators: confirmation is assumed unless there are at least three oppose votes. - AdamBMorgan (talk) 10:57, 21 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]


Agreed. -- William Maury Morris II (talk) 12:48, 21 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Tumblr[edit]

Aside from Facebook, I would recommend a tumblr for English Wikisource as the next/first use of social media through this project. It seems like a fairly straight forward blogging platform that would be easy to implement. We could post things like the current Proofread of the Month, the current featured text, possibly any new additions (in a format like the featured text, perhaps?) and so forth. One problem may be that the first two both update on the same day, potentially leaving the rest of the month empty. (NB: A side benefit of Tumblr, or any blogging site, is that it can be included in the Planet Wikimedia blog aggregator.) - AdamBMorgan (talk) 11:07, 21 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]

A blog that contains brief entries about the daily activities of an individual or company. Created to keep friends, colleagues and customers up-to-date, small images may be included as well as brief audio and video clips. The most popular microblog is Twitter. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/microblog#ixzz24BPxRxID (Others may also want to know) William Maury Morris II (talk) 12:33, 21 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I haven't seen Eliyak around recently, so in their absence I have set up English Wikisource on Tumblr. At this stage, it will just be mirroring material on the main page (announcements of the featured texts, proofread of the month, maybe new texts etc). This is a trial; when it looks like it is working we can build on that. - AdamBMorgan (talk) 19:15, 8 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I just came from there and it looks nice. The image, "Betelguese, a trip through hell", really should be handed to Ineuw who is most excellent in image work. —William Maury Morris IITalk 21:05, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

images are different[edit]

AdamBMorgan, the following images differ greatly in quality. On Tumblr, you have a lower quality that the same image on WS. Please look at and correct thee following differences and remember that on Tumblr, that image is a large visual part representing work on WS that people see and judge in quality of WS itself. —William Maury Morris IITalk 21:30, 12 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/File:Betelguese,_a_trip_through_hell_pg_6.jpg File:Betelguese, a trip through hell pg 6.jpg

October’s featured text: Betelguese, a trip through hell http://englishwikisource.tumblr.com/

Linkity do dah[edit]

" October’s Proofread of the Month is The American Indian: Anthropology of the New World (1917)"

Firefox [ver. 15.0.1] doesn't know how to open this address, because the protocol (index) isn't associated with any program. —William Maury Morris IITalk 21:10, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed. I apparently forgot what I was doing and used a wikilink instead of a real hyperlink. - AdamBMorgan (talk) 18:24, 10 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, it works easily now.—William Maury Morris IITalk 21:42, 10 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

image does not show[edit]

This image, the first letter,

, does not show

[X]ARESSED by crystal dews and light

Beyond the realm of scale and fin,

—William Maury Morris IITalk 21:20, 9 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It seems to be loading, it just loads slowly. This might be due to the size of the Typhon frontispiece. I've left it for now but I'll keep an eye on this in the future. - AdamBMorgan (talk) 18:26, 10 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]
It will not load for me but as I wait I eventually see the standard lettering "C" in caps which is good enough and perhaps should replace the .jpg image. This may be due to your and my browser differences. I use Firefox (version 15.0.1) Respectfully, —William Maury Morris IITalk 21:45, 10 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Twitter[edit]

I noticed @Wikisource tweets ceased during 2015. Was there ever interest in creating an English WS Twitter account? Londonjackbooks (talk) 10:09, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Londonjackbooks: I'd love to see it tweeting again. We could at the very least have it announcing newly-validated books maybe. I'd be happy to help run it. Sam Wilson 10:19, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Samwilson: Do you know if the @Wikisource account was created to represent the English WS or was it inclusive of other language WSs—noting many of those have their own Twitter accounts? It would be nice to see it active. When one alights on an inactive Twitter account, it appears the business or project itself is likewise inactive. Londonjackbooks (talk) 10:31, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
yes, twitter can be a powerful tool for outreach. good for reporting from wikimania as well. who has the account? should we find a twitter ambassador? we need to start pushing progress updates for interested editors. Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 10:41, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure who holds the keys. Londonjackbooks (talk) 10:48, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Slowking4: Is there online video of your Wikimania presentation on WS year-in-review? Londonjackbooks (talk) 14:08, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
no, we are at the mercy of the sessions fuzheado was at, and the plenaries. there is an etherpad here https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Wikimania2017_-_Wikisource_Year_in_Review. there is also a list of all sessions here https://wikimania2017.wikimedia.org/wiki/All_Session_Notes
i am on twitter and facebook, so could do it, but we need a dedicated communicator to push out on social media, the other transcription projects use it, it works. Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 14:33, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
I am on Twitter daily promoting a favorite poet's life and works, and frequently reference #Wikisource works. Therefore I too have time to dedicate, but hesitate with my lack of technical knowledge. My contribution would be updates on POTM, featured/newly validated texts, discussion topics, etc., accompanied, of course, by corresponding PD images. But my finger is not necessarily on the WS/WM pulse. I am but a fan and would require guidance. Londonjackbooks (talk) 15:02, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
that’s all we need for a start, just a news feed, and announcement of events. we could have a upcoming news page, like potm to propose items. or we could rotate it when people get burned out. live tweeting the WS sessions at wikimania would be nice. we can build on hashtag and impressions later. look at @womeninred @WikiWomenInRed for an example. [thanks for the correction] Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 16:51, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
[You mean #womeninred? The account @womeninred is not related. Update: found @WikiWomenInRed]⁠So, who to contact? I would imagine WM & the WS community would like to have some say as to account oversight/responsibility for a project Twitter account? Londonjackbooks (talk) 17:48, 18 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks, @Slowking4: I've asked Aubrie Johnson (one of the WMF social media people) how we can get access to @wikisource. I don't think that account is specifically about English Wikisource, so we could think about creating e.g. @wikisource_en or something; but then, maybe it's okay to use the existing one? I'm not sure. I think we'll be tweeting about things above and beyond English, but mostly/only in English. Sam Wilson 01:32, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
From memory it was an account held by someone in French Wikisource. It has been mentioned in either our WS:S archives or the mailing list. I cannot remember which and it was a while ago. I would think that an "English Wikisource" or similar would be useful. I also would like to see how it might be able to have a semi-automated feature to take new works in some means. — billinghurst sDrewth 07:48, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
I agree that we should have an "English Wikisource" to follow suit with other language WS account naming at Twitter: either @Wikisource_en or @enWikisource (neither of which are taken). Londonjackbooks (talk) 15:53, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
I currently hold the keys to @Wikisource. Sam and I talked briefly about the fate of that account after reclaiming it from an inactive user a while back. I'm glad there's interest in resurrecting it! Seconding the idea of renaming to @Wikisource_en. I don't have the bandwidth to maintain the account, but am happy to give access and help with promotion on occasion. AJohnson (WMF) (talk) 19:49, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@AJohnson (WMF): Would it perhaps be beneficial to retain @Wikisource for future comprehensive purposes and create @Wikisource_en as a new account?⁠If permitted, I would like to help with promotion (tweet) updates for an English Wikisource Twitter feed along with other interested parties. Whether or no, it will be good to see WS promoted/represented. Thanks, Londonjackbooks (talk) 21:16, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@AJohnson (WMF), @Londonjackbooks: Thanks Aubrie! And yeah, I agree that the @wikisource account should be retained and used for cross-project purposes, and a new @wikisource_en be created; would you be able to do that? Best if you do it, so the password stays with the WMF. Sam Wilson 21:48, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Samwilson, @Londonjackbooks: Just seeing this, sorry. In that case, let me set you up with @Wikisource_en tonight or tomorrow. We'll put the current one to bed. :) AJohnson (WMF) (talk) 23:36, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@AJohnson (WMF): It's okay, we want to keep the existing one, and create the new @wikisource_en; the former can serve all language Wikisources. Thanks! Sam Wilson 00:48, 22 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Hello. I am from the french wikisource. I found this conversation by pure luck. I just wanted to let you know of our experience. We use @wikisource_fr, but it is on and off, depending on the volunteer(s) running the account. I think @wikisource should be reserved for more general purpose (There is also an inactive @wikisource_org.), and a specific account created for English wikisource.
There is another account specific to French Canada “Projet Québec/Canada” (twitter @jecontribue) created one year ago. Again this is on and off. I used it during Wikimania in Montréal to draw attention to wikisource.
This accounts takes its name (Projet Québec/Canada) from a GLAM that we (Wikimedia Canada in Québec) have with our national archival and library (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec : BAnQ) Wikisource:BAnQ in French. We are also promoting books from other French Canadian sources such as Library and Archives Canada and Canadian universities Projet Québec/Canada in French.
I encourage you to create an account and hope to see you soon on Twitter. --Viticulum (talk) 19:32, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
had i known, i would have pushed at wikimania. User:Mathieugp is at the BAnQ. we should approach him or User:Jean-Frédéric or User:VIGNERON or you, to take over the French wikisource twitter. maybe our example will spur some social media competition. it also raises the subject of continuity. we should have a plan to rotate when social media manager gets burned out. we can reserve @wikisource to the WMF for cross language promotion, for instance for the Wikisource User Group. Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 19:40, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Viticulum: What is the name of the "specific account created for English wikisource"? Thanks, Londonjackbooks (talk) 20:21, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks: I have not seen any, so you would have the choice. In Twitter, search for wikisource to see the others. --Viticulum (talk) 21:51, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
(ec) @Viticulum: Ok, thanks. I believe I misread what you had stated. Londonjackbooks (talk) 23:36, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
i see it is @wikisource_fr and @wikisource_de but @odiaws , @bnwikisource and @WikiSourceBot. founders choice. Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 23:33, 19 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Londonjackbooks: I think English Wikisource should have its own pages on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus. Bengali Wikisource has it (1, 2, 3), and links are given on bnWS Main Page. On special occasions, special subpages are created (e.g. 4 for 10th anniv. competition of bnWS), for automatic showing of new pages, there is this Facebook page: 5, this shows all new pages in bnWP, main space creations of bnWS and also other Bengali Wikimedia projects. We also have Facebook communities for all Wikisources: 6, and general sites for social gossiping from WMF: 7. On this line, enWS should have its own social media pages. Hrishikes (talk) 02:03, 20 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Hrishikes, @Slowking4, @Londonjackbooks, @Viticulum: it sounds like we should go ahead and create @wikisource_en and add a bunch of us as its team, as well as add a similar team to @wikisource. My feeling is that @wikisource should pretty much just retweet the various language Wikisource accounts (in all languages). We could also create a list on @wikisource of all Wikisourcerors who are on Twitter. Sam Wilson 23:43, 20 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

ok, a facebook account is here https://www.facebook.com/Wikisource/ ; also check out https://twitter.com/TranscribeSI they use twitter as a talk page or village pump. Slowking4 ‽ SvG's revenge 00:41, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Samwilson: 1) How will a 'team' coordinate their efforts? Communication/rotation/roles (FT/PotM/Validated works/Discussions &c.)? 2) Who will create @wikisource_en? 3) How does a Twitter account work that has multiple 'users'? 4) Who will oversee account responsibility/accountability/security? Thanks, Londonjackbooks (talk) 01:24, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
From Tweetdeck (which anyone can use) you can run multiple accounts. To do so, the account owner has to add new 'team' members (they don't have to be given the password, and don't have to have full admin controls). I reckon we should ask User:AJohnson (WMF) to create the new @wikisource_en account. As for coordination, I think we'd be okay to let it be pretty informal: people could just check what's recently been tweeted before tweeting anything, and avoid flooding too much at once or repeating previous content. Also, the @wikisource account should ideally have team members from each of the Wikisources. Sam Wilson 01:56, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Understood. Thanks, Londonjackbooks (talk) 01:59, 21 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Just FYI, in plwikisource we have @wikisource_pl (#Wikiźródła) twitter account. At the moment it is managed by me (formerly by @Magalia: the WMPL PR person). But it is not very active recently, mainly due to time shortage. We have also an active Facebook account, managed by @Wieralee AFAIK. Ankry (talk) 06:29, 22 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Ankry: Added to the list (and followed). Sam Wilson 07:32, 22 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Samwilson: Great to see enWS up and running :) May I suggest listing the web address in the profile section? Londonjackbooks (talk) 03:16, 23 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks: Good point; I'll ask! And do you have any suggestions of who it should follow? I was thinking of creating a list of Twitterish Wikisourcerors... what's everyone's Twitter usernames? :-) Sam Wilson 03:47, 23 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@AJohnson (WMF), @Samwilson: Aubrie, are you able to list English Wikisource's web address in the profile section of the new @Wikisource_en Twitter account? It would be good for people to be able to link to it easily. Also, in my opinion, the text color for links/hashtags is too light... perhaps a darker blue (link color)? Samwilson, another suggestion: Whenever a text that contains illustrations is tweeted about, adding an image will make the tweet stand out, and it won't be so dull in the news feed. It may also be a draw. Just MHO. Londonjackbooks (talk) 09:41, 25 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Samwilson: Following all the sister sites (and other language WSs) would be a good start, in my opinion. Can't say as to branching out from there. Perhaps use the following as a guide as it develops. But not necessarily adopting the "you follow me, I'll follow you" mentality... But I am no expert. Definitely contributors here who supply their Twitter names. Londonjackbooks (talk) 07:38, 23 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks: Yeah, I was thinking these accounts should follow Wikisources and sister projects, and other digital GLAMs, but not so much just random people. I've started a new list: https://twitter.com/wikisource/lists/wikisourcerors Sam Wilson 09:01, 23 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Samwilson, @AJohnson (WMF): et al. The English WS Twitter account now has a link to the site & darker link coloring. The current profile intro states: "Wikisource—The Free Library—is a @Wikimedia project to create a free content library of source texts." I think it should also mention that it is made up of volunteers & add an invitation to contribute. Character space is limited, but I thought I would run the idea by whomever it may concern. Something like "Wikisource—the free library—is a @Wikimedia project maintained by volunteers to create a free content library of source texts. Visit to read or help contribute!"—which uses up all the character spaces. Londonjackbooks (talk) 21:16, 28 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@AJohnson (WMF), @Londonjackbooks: Good idea, and I like your suggested text. Thanks for helping with this Aubrie! Sam Wilson 21:50, 28 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@Samwilson, @Billinghurst: Just wondering what the status is on Wikisource_en posts. I notice a dry spell. And today is the birthday of Keats. Londonjackbooks (talk) 13:11, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Done nothing. :-( RL interruptus. — billinghurst sDrewth 22:35, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks, @Billinghurst: Yeah, me too! :) But I shall resume my monitoring of New Texts and try to tweet what seems interesting. —Sam Wilson 22:47, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
(ec) @Samwilson, @Billinghurst: Understandable. I could help out, if allowed, by doing at least a post a day...? Londonjackbooks (talk) 22:49, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Londonjackbooks: Great idea! I've added you as a team member. Sorry didn't do it weeks ago. —Sam Wilson 23:17, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. I was reticent to ask before. I'll try to figure things out in a few minutes after I finish a chapter here. Londonjackbooks (talk) 23:21, 31 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]

@AJohnson (WMF), @Samwilson, @Billinghurst: I was thinking a change might be made to the last sentence in the WS_en Twitter account description:

from "...Visit to read or help contribute!"

to "...Visit to read or help edit today!"

Same number of characters, but the issue being that while we contributors know what "contribute" means, others not yet familiar with WS may associate contribution with dollar signs... which is not the intent. Thanks, Londonjackbooks (talk) 10:49, 1 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Londonjackbooks: Sounds like a good idea! @AJohnson (WMF): can you make the change? Sam Wilson 08:40, 3 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@AJohnson (WMF), @Samwilson: &c. Requesting again for the above wording change to be made to the WS_en Twitter account description. Thanks Aubrie if you can get to it! :) Londonjackbooks (talk) 07:07, 9 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Londonjackbooks: I don't have access to the actual account (I'm just a team member like you), so this has to be done by @AJohnson (WMF): (or maybe @MKramer (WMF):?). Sam Wilson 00:54, 11 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I did put a specific message to AJohnson's talk page pointing to this conversation a couple of days ago. — billinghurst sDrewth 08:50, 11 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

June 2018—string of posts based on May new texts[edit]

To note some generating activity. I have added a string of posts that re-promote Template:New texts/2018/05 and a few from Template:New texts/2018/04 to fire off twice daily to the end of June. Being uninventive they give

  • title
  • author
  • year of publication
  • url
  • hashtags #transcribed(month)2018 #published(year) #readme #(AuthorName), and some other bits if considered
  • an image from work if available, otherwise author, or something related. if there was a media legend, it is added

Suggested improvements welcome.

When there are more for June, I will start adding these to ping in July. Personally I would like a means to have these do themselves, though I think that I have next to know hope of working out how to botify that. — billinghurst sDrewth 08:36, 9 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for keeping it active :) By August (if not sooner) I should be able to help a bit more and follow suit as you have done above &c. Londonjackbooks (talk) 19:09, 9 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Doing some tips[edit]

I was thinking that it would be worthwhile us looking to do a string of help and guiding posts for people to help utilise Wikisource. Especially thinking that we could do something that we could occasionally recycle. Some of the things that I think we can talk about are:

  • Generating epub books
  • Proofread of the month
  • Author pages
  • Main namespace pages
  • Search
  • Proofread page, come and visit and do a page
  • Having a Wikimedia account
  • Wikisource for Wikipedians
  • What Wikisource includes

Obviously we would want to review the landing pages and look to have "in a nutshell" components. Just thoughts. — billinghurst sDrewth 08:45, 9 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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