Imagine a Wikipedia where everyone can check their sources.
Checking for OA Links
In an ideal world, OPEN would be the default for researchers everywhere. In the real world, we are going to have to work hard to reach that goal. Here, at OAWiki, we are committed to including OA research wherever possible.
Those efforts start with YOU!
While Wikipedia has made a committed effort to link sources to all claims, many of those are either not OA, or if they are OA a link is not provided for the user.
We need your help to change that
On this page you will find information designed to help you determine whether a link is OA.
And, please remember, whenever you make an edit to Wikipedia, make sure to include the hashtag #OAWiki in the edit summary.
Note that if you would like to get started searching references for OA, go to our how to participate page
How to check if a reference is OPEN
If you are using OABot
Instructions for adding references in OABot are here.
Checking for any citation link that is OA
The reference toolbar in the Wikitext editing interface, showing where to find the different types of citation styles.
There are two options:
In the first option, you can continue to look for the cited article in an OA database. Sometimes the link to the article that is included in Wikipedia is not OA but an OA option is available.
In the second option you can start over and search for a new reference that is OA and supports the claim.
Does the reference open to a paywall? If so, this is not OA.
Continue to the next reference in the document
Add an edit summary of your change that includes the hashtag #OA Wiki
Click save below the edit summary box
Tips
Reliable sources for Wikipedia include any source with a history of editorial control (newspapers, books, finding aids, scholarly journal articles, editorially controlled websites). The stronger the reputation or the greater the authority of the author on a topic, the more well received it will be.
Though Wikipedia favors sources that are Open Access,[1] it doesn't require them (after all, some knowledge can only be found in print books or behind paywalls). However, a reference to an open access source means that more public readers get a chance to find and read the research they need through Wikipedia.
