Wikipedia:Offline sources: Difference between revisions
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{{about|using offline sources|using Wikipedia offline|Wikipedia:Database download}}
{{Supplement|pages=[[Wikipedia:Verification]] policy|shortcut=WP:OFFLINE}}
{{policy in a nutshell|Offline sources are just as valid as online sources.}}
[[File:The Caxton Celebration - William Caxton showing specimens of his printing to King Edward IV and his Queen.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Even though Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, and even though editors are increasingly using online sources and e-journals, printed books and paper journals that are not available online are still a [[WP:RS|reliable source]].]]
Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources|reliable sources guideline]] states that articles should be sourced with reliable, third-party, published sources. '''Even though Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, there is no distinction between using online versus offline sources.''' While many editors use online sources, such as websites and online journals, many great sources are only available offline in printed books and paper journals. Don't let the fact that a printed book or journal is not available online scare you away from using them as a [[Wikipedia:Verifiability|source]] in Wikipedia. Likewise, do not remove cited material merely because it is from an offline source.
That Wikipedia relies extensively on online sources is not surprising, considering the relative ease of accessing such materials. There is also an additional advantage of using online sources, because it allows all users to evaluate the source and its value to the article. However, this reliance on online sources can lead to [[Wikipedia:Recentism|recentism]], where most articles and content are from the [[Internet era]]. It can also lead to an unfair bias against print books and print journals, where an editor's addition of material sourced from a book or print journal is reverted with the comment "Revert - I couldn't access and confirm this source online."
==Usage==
Books are a typical example of an offline source. These are often great resources for history, philosophy and literature, and they often contain information that can't be found online. Several ongoing projects, such as [[Project Gutenberg]], [[NLA Trove]] and [[Google Book Search]], aim at [[digitizing]] certain books or newspaper articles and presenting them online. Even if the books are online, it might be necessary to consult a print edition to double-check any errors from the [[Optical character recognition|OCR scanning]]. Many [[academic journal]]s only make short [[Abstract (summary)|abstracts]] available online. Other content providers, like the ''[[Wall Street Journal]],'' publish their content behind a [[paywall]] that prevents non-subscribers from accessing the content. Other websites, like the ''[[Philadelphia Inquirer]],'' only publish their content online for a few weeks. Sometimes a source was once online, but now is offline ([[link rot]]).
Special care should be taken when using offline sources. Provision of full bibliographic information helps Wikipedia's readers and editors find the source when they need it, and also increases the source's credibility as a [[WP:reliable source|reliable source]]. This is often done by using a fully-filled out [[Wikipedia:Citation templates|citation template]] such as {{tl|cite book}} or {{tl|cite news}}. Use of the <code>quote=</code> parameter within those [[Wikipedia:Citation templates|citation templates]] provides some context for the reference. This is especially important when using the off-line source to support a fact that might be controversial or is likely to be challenged. Providing identifiers such as an [[ISBN]], [[OCLC]] number, [[Open Library]] number or similar can help others locate physical copies, as cataloguing data can often vary from one library to another.
==Challenging offline sources==
Sometimes, the use of an offline source will be challenged. Be sure to [[Wikipedia:Assume good faith|assume good faith]] for the user who cited the offline source. They might even be able to provide you a scan or an excerpt from that source. Consider visiting your local library to obtain a copy. Even if the library doesn't have that particular book or journal article, it might be available through [[interlibrary loan]]. Also consider posting an inquiry on the relevant [[Wikipedia:WikiProject|WikiProject]], because some interested editors might have a copy of that source. The volunteers at [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Resource Exchange|WikiProject Resource Exchange]] might be able to help you coordinate your search.
==See also==
*[[FUTON bias]]
*[[Wikipedia:Resource requests]]
*[[Wikipedia:Link rot]]
*[[Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Cost]]
*[[Wikipedia:Offline sources only]], arguments to avoid in deletion discussions
{{Wikipedia essays|notability}}
[[Category:Wikipedia essays]]
[[Category:Wikipedia sources]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about building the encyclopedia]]
[[Category:Wikipedia essays about verification]]
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