Wikipedia talk:The Wikipedia Library

Can't create clippings on newspapers.com
I can access newspapers.com and click through search results to see the newspaper pages, but when I click on "Clip" I get "Register to create a clipping. Register for a Free Account" in a banner at the top of the screen. I'm working on an iPad as I'm travelling so I can't tell whether this also happens on my PC -- perhaps this is always the case on an iPad and my PC would work fine. Using Chrome. Is this a known issue? Mike Christie (talk - contribs - library) 16:10, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
 * What worked for me was registering an account at newspapers.com (actual site, not the TWL proxy), logging in there, then logging in again through TWL proxy.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer 連絡 16:19, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I literally just clipped an article and yes, you must signed in to clip. When you first enter the search page there is a person icon where you can sign in if you already have a newspapers.com account. Otherwise, you need to create an account on Newspapers.com directly. SusunW (talk) 16:20, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
 * That worked -- thanks! I tried it both ways around -- logging in to my account first and then going through the library; that didn't work.  Going through the library and then logging in did work.  Thanks for the help! Mike Christie (talk - contribs -  library) 16:24, 24 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you, and ! It's been months of frustration, the lack of clipping.
 * I'm wondering, is there a way we can add that sort of instruction to the Library itself, so that the larger user base who's not looking on this talk page will know? -- Zanimum (talk) 02:17, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * When asked about this over at the WP:Discord server, mentioned that instead they've been thinking about removing the Newspapers.com proxy entirely (as it's hard to maintain and has all these issues with clipping) and returning to the system where you manually apply to get your account upgraded for a year.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer  連絡 02:30, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * That system was easier to use. TrottieTrue (talk) 22:01, 19 June 2024 (UTC)
 * For Newspapers.com, yes, unfortunately you currently need to register outside of the library, and then log in inside the library. It's a pain and not how we'd like it to be. If you have thoughts about returning to the older system of individual account accesses I'd love to hear - we're evaluating the workload to move back to that system. Samwalton9 (WMF) (talk) 17:12, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Now that I know how it works it's fine as far as I'm concerned. And I got very quick help here; it's annoying but only a minor issue if everyone knows how to do it. Mike Christie (talk - contribs -  library) 18:02, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * It's not unique to newspapers.com. Same happens with newspaperarchive and the British newspaper archives. The problem with the old system was that they stopped sending renewal notices, so inevitably your access would be suspended and you'd have to reapply, causing several weeks delay in getting back up and running. Once I figured out the log in system, this seems to work fine, except when changes are made by the provider to their system, and the fact that British newspaper archives billed me for renewal. I paid it, but it was weird. I do think it would be helpful to provide an explanation on the various newspaper collections that to clip you have to sign in. SusunW (talk) 18:10, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I agree with SusunW. The inconvenience of having to register etc. is very minor compared to the old system. Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 19:06, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I, too, had this clipping problem. My only complaint about the current system is that if you're trying to use the proxy URL for citations, it points non-Wikipedia-Library users to the top page of The Wikipedia Library not the actual resource. So this is the URL for the item that I see
 * https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/image/480189291/
 * and this is the one I need to use for a citation
 * https://www.newspapers.com/image/480189291/
 * I agree the wait time was frustrating with the old system, so I'm not sure of a better solution but I might not mind the old system if it were to come back (apologies for weird formatting, feel free to make it look nicer). Jessamyn (my talk page) 20:39, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I fixed this issue by writing a small userscript:


 * You'd need Tampermonkey extension installed in your browser to make it work. Then you click on the Tampermonkey icon → Create a new script, replace everything there with this code and click File → Save. Then on Newspapers.com (TWL proxy version of it, that is), once you create a clipping, there will be a blue Share button in a panel on the right side of your screen. When you click it and mouse over the link in the share window, it should replace it with the proper link.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer 連絡 21:33, 27 May 2024 (UTC)
 * All that seems really complicated. I just sign in to Newspapers.com, go to "My clippings" and paste the link from there. SusunW (talk) 04:15, 28 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Yeah, that works too, but then I would need to keep the second tab opened. And if I already have dozens upon dozens of tabs opened, keeping track of it is daunting.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer 連絡 04:21, 28 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I already use Tampermonkey so this was an easy adjustment. Jessamyn (my talk page) 21:17, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I don't understand what "register outside of the library, and then log in inside the library" means. Can you explain further, or point me towards directions on how to do this?
 * Also, I have been unable to access newspapers.com on my home computer but am able to do so when I log in at my local public library. I don't know why this is, or if it is related to the registration issue you mention. Mehendri Solon (talk) 15:53, 12 June 2024 (UTC)
 * https://www.newspapers.com/ is "outside of the library". When you access it through The Wikipedia Library ("inside the library"), right now you use https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/ (known as a proxy server). For whatever reason (unrelated to you unable to access the site), this proxy doesn't work well with the registration process, so you would need to first register at newspapers.com and then use your login/password when you log in through the proxy.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer 連絡 18:17, 12 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I prefer the current system even with the clipping issue to the old system of losing access for long periods of time due to the weirdness of never getting notices it was lost. Ealdgyth (talk) 15:45, 28 May 2024 (UTC)

Springer access errors
Getting errors HTTP Status 400 – bad request errors, when trying to access Springer and Nature. Zenomonoz (talk) 07:09, 19 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Thanks for reporting this. I am unable to re-produce this issue. Could you clear cookies for oclc.org and try again? I would also suggest opening this page in another browser to see if it works.
 * If this issue persists, it would be great if you can send us an email with the URL, and a screenshot or a screen recording of the error you're facing. Thanks VSj (WMF) (talk) 11:28, 20 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks, I cleared cookies for OCLC and Springer, and it worked. Zenomonoz (talk) 03:21, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

De Gruyter access error
I'm trying to access the following page: https://www-degruyter-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/database/ABJ/entry/abj.9172/html

It repeatedly reloads then gives me the following error: "Max challenge attempts exceeded. Please refresh the page to try again!"

I'm getting the same error with other De Gruyter entries/chapters that I was trying to access, across 2 different web browsers and extended confirmed accounts. (t &#183; c)  buidhe  05:41, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I can repoduce the error with database entries (or rather, anything under .../database/). Books and journals that are in the folder .../documents/ work fine for me. –Austronesier (talk) 10:19, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

Permission denied
I'm getting the "Permission denied" message for all the sites, which I've never experienced before. Are there technical problems at present? DMBanks1 (talk) 16:43, 26 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Working fine for me. Check your contribution history. Have you made 30+ edits in the past 30days? — Grand&#39;mere Eugene (talk) 17:22, 26 June 2024 (UTC)


 * I do not make numerous insignificant edits but primarily single in depth edits which add substantial content to a limited number of articles. How do I restore my access? DMBanks1 (talk) 17:36, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I had it wrong, the criterion is 10+ edits in the past 30 days, and your Contributions page shows you've now made 11 edits in that timeframe. Try again. — Grand&#39;mere Eugene (talk) 17:59, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Still does not work. Has there ever been a discussion regarding a criterion which takes into account the size of content added instead of the number of edits. For folk like myself who are making substantial contributions to content, it is possible that I could only have a few edits in a month. Surely one large edit covers more ground than a thousand minor edits. DMBanks1 (talk) 18:16, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Now restored. Since it is theoretically possible for me to have no edits over a 30-day period when researching a large project, such as the Ashcroft one (which took several hundred hours), should I be doing 10 fake edits in the interim to keep my library access current? If not, how should contributors who primarily add content to grossly deficient articles handle such a situation? DMBanks1 (talk) 19:21, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * You raise some good questions — maybe editors with more knowledge about the rationale behind the requirements for WP Library access can advise? Perhaps voluminous edits should be weighed into the criteria differently, but I suspect the coding would be more complex than we currently have available. — Grand&#39;mere Eugene (talk) 19:44, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The ten-edit minimum can be reached with routine editing tasks, like adding categories, updating lists, even fixing typos--it all adds up. - Penny Richards (talk) 20:31, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * If the underlying content of an article is grossly deficient, which is normally the case for the articles I have been expanding, no matter how many of the above activities are carried out in isolation, the respective content of such articles would remain grossly deficient. Consequently, for those with the appropriate capabilities, time is more productively spent in focusing upon such content deficiencies, which also addresses the routine as a byproduct. DMBanks1 (talk) 21:35, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * For maintaining access to the Wiki library, the rationale adopted bears no correlation whatsoever to either Wiki article research conducted or the product of that research. Since, the present criterion penalizes those who use the library most, I would suggest that the 10 edit minimum either be abolished or a valid criterion be adopted instead. DMBanks1 (talk) 19:48, 2 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Mess around in the Sandbox if you need to. BhamBoi (talk) 22:55, 13 July 2024 (UTC)

Newspapers.com (again)
Was working fine yesterday .. today ... I log into the Wikipedia library and go to access Newspapers.com and get to a page that just says "start a free trial" instead of what used to appear "access from Wikipedia" (or something similar). Ealdgyth (talk) 18:01, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I also had this page today. It also logged me out. In my case, logging back in through newspapers.com and then logging in through TWL proxy fixed it.  AstonishingTunesAdmirer 連絡 22:02, 26 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm unable to make any searches via the "https://www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/" version of Newspapers.com. It gives the error:
 * > There was a problem loading the search results. Please try again. If the problem persists, please contact us.
 * It was working earlier today. The normal url Newspapers.com website search works, but (as we know) clicking through to any results requires a paid account.
 * PK-WIKI (talk) 06:30, 27 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Every time I have ever had that unable to make searches error on any library collection, it ends up being that I need to clear my browser's OCLC cookies. I am not a technician and have no clue if that will work for you. Sam Walton told me to do that and it has worked for me. I can access newspapers.com through Wiki without any problem right now, so you might try that? SusunW (talk) 14:38, 27 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, I keep getting "There was a problem loading the search results. Please try again. If the problem persists, please contact us." now too. Clearing cookies seems to only help for a short time, then it occurs again. Very annoying. Connormah (talk) 15:49, 27 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm experiencing the same error message most times I've checked Newspapers.com the past few weeks, not every time, but the vast majority. Even removing cookies does not help. I should also note that even the contact form linked in the message gives an error if you try to submit it. When googling the error, apparently it only happens to us Wikipedia Library users, and only since late June. I suppose that a recent update introduced a new incompatibility between the Newspapers.com form submission code and our proxy. NGPezz (talk) 19:41, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Problem with clippings
I've been having a problem for a couple weeks now wherein when I click on any clipping, they display for an instant and then redirect to an error page that says "This page is not available; This page is pending publication, has been removed or moved to a new location". The clippings are viewable if I transpose them from www-newspapers-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/ to www.newspapers.com. Jweiss11 (talk) 03:07, 28 June 2024 (UTC)
 * A separate talk page exists for Wikipedia talk:Newspapers.com, where the issue is mentioned. By following the usual routine of copying, pasting and modifying, the clipping is visible when inserted into a Wiki page. DMBanks1 (talk) 21:35, 28 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Yes, I know when you transpose the URL, it’s viewable. I acknowledged this above. But it’s incredibly annoying and inefficient not to be able to view the urls in the native library version of the site. Is someone working on resolving this? Jweiss11 (talk) 21:48, 28 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I suspect nobody is resolving the matter. If you contact Nick by continuing the "Error message" thread on the Wikipedia talk:Newspapers.com page, he might know more. DMBanks1 (talk) 21:59, 28 June 2024 (UTC)

Springer and Nature not accessible
Me and several other users at WP:PALEO have noticed that over the last few days that while you can still login to Springer and Nature's Wikipedia library login, it doesn't provide you any access to the closed access material that it would have done maybe two weeks earlier. Has anyone else noticed this? Hemiauchenia (talk) 17:10, 2 July 2024 (UTC)


 * Yep, I've noticed this too, though I've no idea when this access was dropped. I no longer have TWL access to articles in Paleontological Journal or Entomological Review that I used to have, e.g. Monster Iestyn (talk) 13:21, 3 July 2024 (UTC)
 * @Hemiauchenia Try now? I seem to have access articles on Springer again. Monster Iestyn (talk) 20:58, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

ScienceDirect content unavailable / Wikimedia Foundation does not subscribe to this content on ScienceDirect
Hello! Once again (has appeared on archives here as well as on the Meta talk page), I am noticing some articles on ScienceDirect presenting with a Wikimedia Foundation does not subscribe to this content on ScienceDirect banner. Is there some full list of journals that are accessible through it? I am attempting to verify a study in Cell Host & Microbe, which is apparently unavailable, even though WikiLibrary states that we should have access to Cell. I know these are separate journals, but they are under the same publisher, Cell Press, so this is strange that there is access to one from this publisher, but not another. Any advice? Is this an error or intended? Thanks! Top5a (talk) 18:58, 5 July 2024 (UTC)


 * The list is here. Nikkimaria (talk) 19:30, 6 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you! (even though, "ugh!")  Cheers, I appreciate the fast response! Top5a (talk) 16:10, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

Newspapers.com made temporarily unavailable
I presume there's a trouble ticket on Phabricator out for this already if the TWL site was changed to remove the Newspapers.com button and replace it with "Temporarily unavailable"? Does anyone know the ticket number so we can track how things are going with it? Silver seren C 20:05, 6 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Related, if the decision is that there isn't a technical fix, but that we're reverting to individual accounts, I'd be willing to volunteer as an approver for this database, or whatever the term may be for behind the scenes of the Library. --  Zanimum (talk) 20:24, 8 July 2024 (UTC)
 * I notice that one of the comments in the trouble ticket is that one cannot log in via Ancestry. I'm not sure how that is a problem. Typically one logs in through the Library interface, and then signs on to one's account to create clippings. But the other items on the trouble ticket are serious. Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 23:12, 8 July 2024 (UTC)
 * , where can one find this trouble ticket? Jweiss11 (talk) 18:50, 9 July 2024 (UTC)
 * If you go to the Wikilibrary page, it's right there next to "temporarily unavailable." https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T322916 Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 19:20, 9 July 2024 (UTC)
 * T322916 Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 15:45, 10 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks,, I've linked the tracker for it at the top of this section. Unfortunately, it appears despite multiple people bringing their concerns to the ticket over the past few weeks, no one on whatever Phabricator group responsible for investigating such things has shown up or left any sort of comment. There appears to be no action being taken (at least none commented in the ticket) trying to fix this going on three weeks now. Which is concerning. Silver  seren C 21:24, 13 July 2024 (UTC)
 * I imagine it may be due to summer vacations and so on. Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 15:27, 14 July 2024 (UTC)

Copying over a workaround from : Works for me so far. Firefangledfeathers (talk / contribs) 18:07, 14 July 2024 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I used that workaround in researching an article and was remiss in not posting here. Figureofnine (talk • contribs) 12:15, 15 July 2024 (UTC)

Is there any method, or enwp page to watch, to be notified of when Newspapers is working again? The bug-tracking site is too opaque for me to navigate, else I would, there. —  Fourthords  &#124; =Λ= &#124; 21:13, 15 July 2024 (UTC)

At press time, a similar issue (re: proxy access) is affecting Wiley Online Library as well (as officially stated on their front page). --Slgrandson (How's my egg-throwing coleslaw?) 20:47, 19 July 2024 (UTC)

Priority of service requests for Wikipedia Library
JapanKnowledge Lib (one of my (very) desired services) are still stuck in the prospects section even after months (for JKLib: nearly nine months). Is there some priority going on here? Who is allowed to contact the service to provide the access? Chuterix (talk) 06:00, 14 July 2024 (UTC)


 * Hi @Chuterix! Thanks for your message. I'm Vipin, the partnerships manager for The Wikipedia Library.
 * Establishing contact with these organisations takes a considerable amount of time. We try to identify the decision makers in these organisations and reach out to them with an appealing message via multiple channels to start a conversation. Usually that takes a few months and sometimes more than a year. I understand this is an important resource for you. I will keep working on this request and update as soon as we get some response.
 * On the other hand, if you have a contact at JapanKnowledge Lib or any other potential partners, I would love to get introduced to them. That will make the whole process a lot faster. Thank you! VSj (WMF) (talk) 09:45, 15 July 2024 (UTC)