Talk:Project grants

JStor

Could we consider a subscription, so editors can get behind the paywall. This could be a general good- and they may even give it to at a very reduced rate- it is really needed for reference hunting. Or maybe, we could be enrolled as external students of an existing university.--ClemRutter 22:23, 10 October 2011 (UTC)--82.39.56.27 22:21, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

General subscriptions are unlikely to be funded, the general accepted practice is to use WP:REX which as well as general questions, that page includes a number of helpful Wikimedians that have academic or other database access and can email back search results, including copies of JSTOR articles (for collaborative research purposes). If you have not subscribed to wikimediauk-l, subscriptions is a topic previously discussed but would be worth discussing again. If JSTOR were to offer WM-UK some level of free or discount access this might be useful to share with members in the future. A number of free (limited) subscriptions to various on-line databases have been offered in the past, though not for JSTOR or LexisNexis. Please also remember that most local public libraries will provide free database access and saving up your Wikip/media research topics to check when you are in the library is a great way of using the facilities. --Fæ 08:17, 11 October 2011 (UTC)

I'm going to disagree with Fæ somewhat here. If there are specific reasons why an editor needs an individual Jstor subscription, or any other subscription, then we would be fairly likely to cover the costs of that subscription. However, why an individual subscription is needed rather than using communal subscriptions via libraries and universities would need to be justified. I understand that sharing copies of jstor articles with others goes against the terms and conditions that apply to jstor accounts, so obviously we can't condone that approach - but if other wikimedians can provide referenced information directly in the appropriate Wikipedia articles, then again a degree of justification would be needed as to why an additional account needs to be funded. Mike Peel 23:41, 11 October 2011 (UTC)

I take Mike's point WRT JSTOR, however this would depend on the article. Personally I would be comfortable sharing small extracts for educational purposes, as one might for any research student, but would not share whole papers that are within copyright. I would take a similar approach for extracts from LexisNexis.

JSTOR clarifies this position in the standard T&Cs with the statement [1] "[Permitted Uses] on an ad hoc basis and without commercial gain or in a manner that would substitute for direct access to the Content via services offered by JSTOR, sharing discrete Textual Content or Specimen for purposes of collaboration, comment, or the scholarly exchange of ideas." It is clear that a request through something like WP:REX where a JSTOR user helps in the collaboration to verify an encyclopaedic article fits within the definition of "collaboration" that JSTOR would recognize so long as the article is not re-published in any form.

With regard to out of copyright material from JSTOR, it is clear that JSTOR has no problem with sharing for research purposes but would prefer not to have the material mass uploaded (but does allow for non-systematic uploading). See http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp#TC2. In these situations there is nothing to stop anyone with JSTOR access emailing entire articles from JSTOR to Wikimedians for verification or research purposes or even the non-systematic upload of such out of copyright articles to Wikimedia Commons or other projects. JSTOR (somewhat incorrectly and arbitrarily) defines "Early Journal Content" as "prior to 1923 in the United States or prior to 1870 if initially published internationally" though it would seem perfectly reasonable to assume that the intent of the terminology is to cover out of copyright material. --Fæ 09:23, 14 October 2011 (UTC)

Current status

Hi all, is the microgrant scheme still in operation? cheers, Casliber (talk) 14:27, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it's still operating. Many thanks for the update at Microgrants/Core Contest (prizes). Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 16:12, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

Excellent - it's gaining some momentum. I'll put in a request at the page..... Casliber (talk) 06:34, 20 January 2013 (UTC)