Talk:National Library of Scotland

Addition of new 'See also' link
Dear all,

This is the first time I've done this, so please forgive me (and if possible advise me) if I've not done this correctly.

One of the Library's major collections is the Bartholomew Archive, the archive of the Edinburgh-based cartographic printer and publisher. It is regarded as one of the most important archives of its kind in the world, and as such I believe it warrants a link to the relevant Wikipedia page in the 'see also' section - the page is Collins Bartholomew. It is my aim to help to improve the Collins Bartholomew page meaning it will, in time, become an even more robust link.

My precedent for this is a similar link to the page on John Murray; the NLS holds this important archive too.

What do you think?

Many thanks, User:Karlalbaker —Preceding undated comment added 10:18, 21 August 2013 (UTC)

Potential COI - disclaimer
I have just updated the information for the NLS's operating budget in the infobox and have fixed the link to the annual audit (which was broken previously). The information is now correct and up-to-date for 2010/11. However, I work for the NLS as the Wikimedian in Residence. This is a minor edit which can easily be verified.

The working link to the the 2008/9 budget is available here and the 2010/11 audit now linked indicates the more recent operating budget in section 3.2 (for info, the Library also publishes its annual review, report and accounts on its website here). Not sure whether this would be a problem but wanted to post here for clarity in case there were concerns. ACrockford (talk) 19:20, 11 September 2013 (UTC)

My reading of the 'main intent' of COI policy is for editors involved in an institution or business making an edit that is promotional or in some way prejudicial for or against, without adequate WP:RS - to simply edit details of annual reports or details seems to be taking that general understanding of the COI issue too far. It is worth stating as above, but hardly an issue. User:JarrahTree 09:18, 12 September 2013 (UTC)

Addition of new logo
Hi all,

From viewing the National Library website ([http://www.nls.uk) I have seen they have a new logo. I will add this to the descriptor box.

Thanks,

George — Preceding unsigned comment added by George Gastin (talk • contribs) 20:16, 24 April 2016 (UTC)

Scottish Science Hall of Fame
The library maintains a hall of fame with the following recipients: RevelationDirect (talk) 00:21, 4 June 2016 (UTC)
 * John Logie Baird
 * Alexander Graham Bell
 * Joseph Black
 * Alexander Fleming
 * James Hutton
 * James Clerk Maxwell
 * John Napier
 * Robert Watson-Watt
 * James Watt

Kelvin Hall: "extension from its historic home in Edinburgh for the first time"
Please see: Mais oui! (talk) 03:51, 15 September 2016 (UTC)
 * National Library of Scotland opens new premises in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall

External links modified (February 2018)
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070800/http://www.nls.uk/info/readerstickets/index.html to http://www.nls.uk/info/readerstickets/index.html

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Update to NLS page 01/07/2020
Hi all. I work at the National Library of Scotland and we are looking at having a (paid, externally funded) intern come in to do some Wiki-related work. I've pinged you because you are all recent editors of the NLS page and would love to know what your thoughts would be on the project. The person has limited Wiki experience but would receive full training before beginning editing. The plan would be to provide them with a whole load of acceptable resources about the Library and its collections, point them towards some good related pages (such as National Library of Wales https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Wales) and let them run with it from there. Appreciate there are COI issues here but I would hope that these could be overcome if we are completely transparent about the process. Many thanks Gweduni (talk) 13:54, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * What a great idea. WikimediaUK, and University of Edinburgh have been running editathons concerning Scottish women and there is a Women in Red intern (the second) at the moment. I would suggest that you talk to who is the Wikimedia lead for Scotland. I helped organise the first meeting of Wikimedians in Scotland and  and I came to visit the museum 10 years ago as part of a GLAM initiative when I was the first UK Wikimedian working at a museum. Sounds really interesting. We have Wikimedians at Edinburgh Uni and SLIC, but this would be, I think, the first Scottish museum. Victuallers (talk) 14:17, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks for your quick (and positive!) reply. My main concern is around conflict of interest - do you see there being an issue if someone who works for the Library (as an intern) and is paid a salary (by an external body) edits the Library's page? Gweduni (talk) 14:25, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Hey hey, just popping in on the work account to say that I'm in touch with Gweduni re training and ongoing Wiki-work at the Library. :) Sara Thomas (WMUK) (talk) 10:49, 2 July 2020 (UTC)
 * @Gweduni: my involvement with this article has been been only trivial, and it's not a topic I know well. So I can make only general comments.
 * It's great to hear that this is happening, and that you already understand the need for training. That should reduce the chances of the intern being shocked and upset when tey run into unexpected objections.  Also good to see that you are committed to transparency about COI.
 * There is clearly huge scope for expanding coverage of the library and its collections, and with goodwill on all sides I hope that the COI issue shouldn't be a barrier to expanding coverage of the library itself. This isn't like a political party or a company, which have their own clear POV.
 * My main fear is that the intern would tackle too major a topic too early in their leaning curve, and become disillusioned at the feedback on the issues they were still learning about. So I suggest that before tackling the articles about library itself, they start by developing a few new articles, for example on topics related to recent exhibitions at the library.  Ideally, they proactively seek feedback, and eventually get to develop one of those articles to WP:GA standard.  Then they would be well-equipped to tackle one of the major topics.
 * A lot depends on the interests and skill levels of the intern. I think that the most important thing in all of this is for the intern to be self-aware of their own skills and weaknesses, and to work within their own limits while trying to expand their capabilities. Those who have been through the process of tutorials at a university will be well-used to having their work robustly critiqued, but others can find that process daunting, so support is likely to be needed.
 * Also, encourage the intern to follow their passions. We all do our best work when we are enthusiastic about the topic.
 * Hope this helps. -- Brown HairedGirl  (talk) • (contribs) 14:26, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the feedback, that's really useful to know. I think you are right about identifying a small page to work on and then build up to a bigger piece of work. The skill level is quite low so training and encouragement would all be very useful - I am a relatively experienced editor so can help with a lot of that, and Sara Thomas has also offered to help out there. Will share more before anything gets started! Gweduni (talk) 14:38, 1 July 2020 (UTC)


 * I found this quite nostalgic. I found the photos we took in 2011 including this one. One person won't make a great deal of difference .... the secret in to unleash the volunteers to help. This means that the intern doesn't spend their time editing (which will throw up COI issues) but organising and explaining open licencing to staff members worried about losing control. Victuallers (talk) 14:32, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * wow this is all very deja vu - I was in Edinburgh for the short list for the wikipedia in residence interviews in 2013, and at the London wikimania that followed the NLS wikipedian in residence program actually got a prize - it is interesting and worth looking at the WIR program that got extended a few times before it eventually completed... see - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:GLAM/NLS/NLS_Wikimedian_in_Residence_Report - Ally has since returned to Canada...  it might seem a long time ago ( 7 years might seem like an eternity to some editors) - but the WIR report does have some salient issues for a subsequent intern -  and there are aspects of the project that can have some indications as to how the COI issue can be dealt with from Ally's experience.  For an intern (rather than a Wikipedian in Residence) there are quite different process es I understand, but  the structure of the WMUK programmes in 2013 and the intentions of working both sides  - I understand helped things a lot to break down inhibiting issues for the staff of the time... JarrahTree 14:52, 1 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Thanks for this, will definitely have another look at Ally's page and see what info she has put there for future projects. I was trained by her when I was working at Edinburgh University - things in Scotland have really pushed on since then! I have a catch up with the intern on Tuesday so will post again here after I've chatted to them about their interests. Definitely thinking something small to start with (like a small article on one of our collections) then build up to something a bit meatier. Thanks again to you and everyone else for all your input! Gweduni (talk) 08:35, 3 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Hi everyone. Our intern Brxdxe is now in week three of six of her internship and has prepared this draft on the John Murray Archive (one of the Library's most famous collections). Would love any feedback on the article, especially if you think it comes across as two biased / not objective enough! Thanks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:The_John_Murray_Archive Gweduni (talk) 10:33, 12 August 2020 (UTC)

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Commons files used on this page or its Wikidata item have been nominated for deletion
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 * Bartholomew Collection map J. G.jpg
 * Cartoon map of world war 1.jpg
 * Himalayan mountains view NLS.jpg
 * Photo of bhang drinkers, from the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission report, 1893.jpg
 * Stevenson Lighthouse image.jpg
 * Title page of Shakespeare's the Taming of the Shrew.jpg