User:Frostly/sandbox/Vision for WikiProject Resource Access

Background
The current process at WikiProject Resource Exchange is often lacking. The extent of volunteer access to a wide array of resources is limited. This causes many editors, especially those of a disadvantaged socioeconomic background, to be unable to contribute content due to the cost of accessing reliable sources. Discussion on Discord and User talk:BilledMammal/2023 Wikimedia RfC clearly demonstrate that there is broad support for the use of Foundation funds to purchase access to reliable sources due to its direct benefit to the community.

Implementation
Request Rapid Grant with amount of $500 USD as pilot. Requests at WP:REX can be fulfilled with grant funding if they are not answered by a volunteer within seven days. Requests over $50 USD in value will not be fulfilled. Each editor may request a maximum of two resources during the pilot. Resources purchased with grant funding are stored in a Google Drive folder so that they can be accessed in the future if needed. Access should generally be limited to abide by fair use principles (eg send chapters of books or sections of articles instead of the whole documents). Aim to provide resources to ten editors and facilitate the creation or improvement of five articles.

{{collapse|1= {{Brainstorming}}

The current process at the Resource Exchange is a great way for many Wikipedians to get access to sources with the help of other fellow Wikipedians. However, while many requests are successfully resolved and resources accessed, there are many requests that "fall through the cracks" and unfortunately don't receive the resources that are requested. On this page, I'm laying out a vision for a WikiProject Resource Access that uses grant and donated funds to provide access to resources for editors. It's currently just a rough layout of a few key points, not a full-fledged WikiProject proposal, and it would take a lot of help to realize. If you would be interested in working with me on a more concrete proposal, please reach out. {{Warning|This page is very much so a draft.}}

The vision
Requests at the Resource Exchange that are not marked as resolved are automatically moved to the WP Resource Access requests page by a bot.

Phase 1: Beta
A Rapid Grant of $500 is requested. A limited beta is launched on Meta for 31 days, with a limit of 1 request per editor. Funds are stored solely in one user's bank account. All other requirements and guidelines are followed. After the Beta, feedback is solicited and the project is evaluated.

Phase 2: Launch
If the Beta is successful, a request to create a User Group is created. A request to use the Open Collective Foundation as a fiscal host is opened, and a Collective at Open Collective is opened for holding funds. A request for a grant from the Wikimedia Community Fund is opened.

Coordinators
Coordinators are a key part of this project.

Benefits

 * "Swag pack" of merchandise mailed yearly
 * Public attribution for their work
 * The Coordinator Barnstar semi-yearly (two times a year) recognizing contributions along with stats
 * Reference letters on request
 * Access to previously-requested resources
 * 1 extra credit each month

Requirements for coordinators

 * Be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is higher.
 * Sign the Waypoint NDA. This is a requirement due to the sensitive nature of credit card information and the legal copyright ramifications of access previously-requested copyrighted resources.
 * Registered user account
 * At least 1,000 global edits
 * 1 year of activity
 * At least 10 edits in the past month (31 days, not necessary calendar month)

Rules for coordinators

 * Coordinators must not disclose private information relating to the project, including, but not limited to, virtual card numbers and previously-requested sources (publicly).
 * Coordinators may only use project funds towards a request logged on the WikiProject requests page.
 * Coordinators must attach receipts, as screenshots or physical receipts, of purchases.
 * [to be revised]

Requirements for access

 * Registered user account
 * At least 500 global edits
 * 6 months of activity
 * At least 10 edits in the past month (31 days, not necessarily calendar month)
 * Not blocked or banned on any project

Each editor is asked to not request resources that they can already access, for example, but not limited to, through organizations such as libraries and schools.

Financial workings
The Open Collective Foundation will be used as a fiscal host. Open Collective will be used, and specifically Open Collective virtual credit cards. For physical resources, coordinators must purchase resources themselves and request a reimbursement.

Pricing policy
Resources can be approved without coordinator consensus if they are under $50 U.S. dollars after tax. If resources are over $50 U.S. dollars after tax, the request is automatically put on hold and coordinator consensus must be reached. If consensus is not reached, the request is declined. Requests under $50 U.S. dollars count as 1 credit, and requests over 50 US dollars count as 2. The coordinators may choose to specify a custom amount of credits for a request.

Credits
The Resource Access WikiProject operates on a credit basis. When Phase 2 is reached, 5 credits will be available to each contributor per month. Coordinators receive 1 extra credit each month for their service. Editors who do not meet the requirements for access but show promising activity may be granted fewer credits than the usual limit of 5 per month on a probationary basis.

Trainee
New coordinators will be welcomed on a 3-month trainee basis. Being a trainee simply means that they can be removed at any time, and that sometimes their judgement might need to be referred to full coordinators. Trainees will be taught the day-to-day needs.

Responsibilities of coordinators

 * Clerk the requests page. Coordinators are responsible for processing (closing and fulfilling or declining) requests.

Non-coordinator ways to help

 * Donate
 * Help clean up the talk page

Request formatting

 * Resource(s):
 * https://example.org/
 * User: [userlinks template]
 * Requesting for:
 * Apple
 * Banana
 * User scripts
 * Price: $XXX [CAD], $XXX [USD] *if applicable, bot will fill conversion into USD
 * Credits remaining: *bot filled*
 * Comments: [sig]

Template replies:


 * Fulfilled
 * Allows parameter of credits used, if not the standard 1 or 2 calculated from the price.
 * On hold
 * Declined
 * Bot note
 * Bot automatically puts on hold when the request is over 50 dollars USD
 * On hold. Because this request exceeds $50 in monetary value, it requires consensus of the coordinators before proceeding.
 * Bot automatically notes if there are no remaining credits for the month
 * Warning: This user has exhausted all credits for this month.
 * Bot automatically maintains a list of credits for each month
 * When requests are fulfilled, the bot subtracts the appropriate amount. It calculates automatically based on the price, but it can also accept a custom reply based on the fulfilled template
 * Bot warns when the request formatting template is used incorrectly
 * When fulfilled, bot automatically lists the available credits for the month
 * Bot moves threads from REX if not resolved

Evaluation of existing TWL
The Wikipedia Library is an existing project with many similar goals as this vision.


 * Project run by Wikimedia Foundation staff and global volunteers
 * Founded in 2011; described as currently having a half-million dollar budget and 6-person team on 4 continents (ref).
 * Wikimedia and Libraries User Group: TWL-adjacent user group
 * Several components:
 * Library Card platform: Database access for paywalled resources
 * Tips and tricks: Several documentation pages (most linked in this navbox) with useful open-access sources and tools
 * Academic and library outreach:
 * Visiting Scholars: Wikipedia editors gain access to a research institution's resources
 * Library Interns: Interns hired by research libraries to improve Wikipedia content
 * Wikipedians in Residence: Paid members of the Wikipedia community that facilitate collaboration between a library and Wikipedia
 * Education Program: Students research a topic and contribute to Wikipedia
 * Events: Various facilitation of events such as lectures, training workshops, editathons, etc.
 * #1lib1ref: Annual campaign to encourage libraries to engage with Wikipedia and add references
 * GLAM-adjacent work: Image uploads, linking to archival collections, etc.
 * Connecting editors:
 * Resource Exchange: Sharing of paid resources by individual editors
 * Research Desk: Help and support for finding reliable sources for content creation
 * Books and Bytes, newsletter
 * Related projects:
 * WikiProject Source Metadata

December 11, 2022
Given the existing TWL program, it would likely be best to plan updates to the previous infrastructure rather than a separate project.


 * Resource Access
 * Microgrants for accessing resources that are not available by other means (Resource Exchange, paywall bypass, etc)
 * Source Wizard
 * "Sourcery"? A Toolforge tool to get access to resources (open access, TWL, paywall bypass, shadow library, request from WP users, request from author, etc)
 * Expansion of Resource Exchange
 * Availability in other projects (e.g. Commons). Centralization? Smaller communities / languages may have less active contributors to the Exchanges


 * https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:The_Wikipedia_Library&diff=prev&oldid=1126940152


 * Module talk:Find sources/links - Wikipedia
 * https://12ft.io/


 * JSON database of sources users can access and are willing to share


 * 2=Archived content}}