[Heb-NACO] Fw: SACO Shorts: When to use Wikipedia (frequently asked question)

[Shinohara, Jasmin]

For your reference.

Best wishes, Jasmin
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From: SACO Cataloging Discussion List <SACOLIST at LISTSERV.LOC.GOV> on behalf of Berthoud, Heidy I <hberthoud at LOC.GOV>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:24 AM
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Subject: [SACOLIST] SACO Shorts: When to use Wikipedia (frequently asked question)


Cataloging Policy Specialists frequently receive questions on whether Wikipedia should be used as a source in 670 notes. It’s difficult to make blanket decisions on Wikipedia–some entries are clearly better than others–but we can provide some general advice:



Wikipedia should never be your only source. Your first source should be your work cat (not Wikipedia), and you should provide evidence from other subject-specific authoritative sources (like Ethnologue for languages or GNS/GNIS for place names) or from general knowledge authoritative sources (like Webster’s online or Encyclopedia Britannica).



If you’ve already cited information from those authoritative sources and the Wikipedia entry adds nothing new to your proposal, don’t include it.



However, if the Wikipedia entry provides an alternative spelling of a name or contains important information that was not listed in any other source, you can include the Wikipedia entry to support your proposal. Again, generally speaking, the Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division has found that Wikipedia entries usually add the most value as sources of alternative names and spellings.



To read more about the research required for subject proposals, please see H202 Authority Research for Subject Heading Proposals<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.loc.gov/aba/publications/FreeSHM/H0202.pdf__;!!IBzWLUs!S9ucnzrutURIzgFPYtzlCK7EKjged5WKaU97QSvTaWjMuzMIF_hTIIT8eoednBLeUGmzqCyTRWGH5Kqqqyk$>. Section 1, Citation of sources consulted, part b., Where to search for authoritative information, specifically mentions Wikipedia and other crowdsourced websites.



SACO Shorts are quick tips that cover common proposal problems or frequently asked questions. SACO Shorts are published on the first and third Mondays of the month.


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