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Created page with "= Volunteer Handbook = This handbook introduces the roles, responsibilities, and workflows for volunteers contributing to Craftpedia. It applies to all language portals within the Craftpedia ecosystem. Craftpedia depends on the cooperation of translators, proofreaders, fact-checkers, editors, and cultural contributors from all over the world. __TOC__ == Purpose of This Handbook == The purpose of this handbook is to: * explain how volunteers can contribute effectivel..."
 
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* use consistent terminology and transliteration;
* use consistent terminology and transliteration;
* may use machine translation as a first draft (but never as final text);
* may use machine translation as a first draft (but never as final text);
* follow the Translation Guide for structure and terminology.
* follow the [[Translation Guide]] for structure and terminology.


Translators do not verify factual accuracy — this is the fact-checker’s role.
Translators do not verify factual accuracy — this is the fact-checker’s role.

Revision as of 06:28, 29 November 2025

Volunteer Handbook

This handbook introduces the roles, responsibilities, and workflows for volunteers contributing to Craftpedia. It applies to all language portals within the Craftpedia ecosystem.

Craftpedia depends on the cooperation of translators, proofreaders, fact-checkers, editors, and cultural contributors from all over the world.

Purpose of This Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to:

  • explain how volunteers can contribute effectively;
  • define the main editorial roles and responsibilities;
  • establish consistent expectations across all languages;
  • ensure smooth collaboration within multilingual teams;
  • maintain Craftpedia’s academic and cultural standards.

Volunteers may participate in one or several roles depending on their skills and interests.

How to Contribute

Volunteers may contribute to Craftpedia in the following ways:

  • translating articles into different languages;
  • proofreading for clarity and correctness;
  • fact-checking historical, cultural, and technical information;
  • categorizing articles using the Craftpedia taxonomy;
  • improving structure, readability, and formatting;
  • adding references and sources;
  • uploading or describing images (with proper licensing);
  • helping expand glossaries and terminology lists;
  • maintaining consistency across languages and portals.

All contributions are welcome as long as they follow Craftpedia’s editorial guidelines.

Volunteer Roles

Craftpedia defines several distinct but collaborative roles. Volunteers may choose one or more roles depending on their expertise.

Translator

Translators:

  • create translations of articles into their local language;
  • ensure meaning is preserved;
  • use consistent terminology and transliteration;
  • may use machine translation as a first draft (but never as final text);
  • follow the Translation Guide for structure and terminology.

Translators do not verify factual accuracy — this is the fact-checker’s role.

Proofreader

Proofreaders:

  • improve grammar, clarity, and readability;
  • ensure consistency of tone and style;
  • remove subjective or promotional language;
  • enforce academic and museum-compatible tone;
  • follow the Proof-reading Guide.

Proofreaders do not introduce new facts or reinterpret the article.

Fact-checker

Fact-checkers:

  • verify all factual statements using reliable sources;
  • add new facts only when supported by authoritative references;
  • correct inaccuracies, missing data, or unclear claims;
  • maintain accurate terminology and historical detail;
  • follow the Fact-checking Guide.

Fact-checkers provide citations so others can easily verify new information.

Editor

Editors:

  • maintain the overall structure of the wiki;
  • ensure articles follow the Craft Article Style Guide;
  • correct categorization issues;
  • manage templates, infoboxes, and structural formatting;
  • coordinate updates across languages;
  • help ensure consistency across portals.

Editors may also act as translators, proofreaders, or fact-checkers if needed.

Cultural Contributor

Cultural contributors:

  • provide ethnographic context about local crafts;
  • suggest missing traditions or regional variations;
  • help identify crafts that require documentation;
  • offer insights into terminology or local names.

They may collaborate with translators and fact-checkers to ensure cultural accuracy.

Technical Contributor

Technical contributors:

  • assist with wiki structure, templates, modules, and formatting;
  • support multilingual configuration and the Translate extension;
  • improve navigational templates and infoboxes;
  • maintain the backend organization if required.

Editorial Workflow

Craftpedia follows a multi-step editorial workflow.

  1. Draft or source article is created (usually in English).
  2. Translator produces a translation in a target language.
  3. Proofreader checks the translation for clarity and style.
  4. Fact-checker verifies accuracy and adds citations.
  5. Editor finalizes structure, categories, and templates.
  6. Article is marked as complete and ready for public readership.

In smaller language teams, a single volunteer may perform several steps, but each step must still be approached independently.

Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication is essential for maintaining consistency.

Volunteers are encouraged to:

  • use talk pages to discuss terminology and decisions;
  • notify translators of major updates or corrections;
  • coordinate across language versions when needed;
  • share reference materials or glossaries;
  • ask questions when unclear about guidelines.

Transparent communication ensures stable growth of the Craftpedia ecosystem.

Using Reliable Sources

All factual contributions must be supported by reliable sources, such as:

  • museum publications and catalogues;
  • university press books and academic monographs;
  • archaeological reports;
  • peer-reviewed journal articles;
  • digitized scholarly archives;
  • trusted cultural heritage institutions.

Volunteers must avoid:

  • Wikipedia as a source (but it may be used to locate sources);
  • blogs or unsourced websites;
  • commercial descriptions of craft items;
  • purely promotional or tourist content.

Category and Structure Responsibilities

Volunteers should follow:

  • the Category System Specification;
  • Craft Article Style Guide;
  • regional naming conventions;
  • consistent use of materials, periods, and regions.

Correct category usage ensures users can navigate Craftpedia effectively.

Code of Conduct

Volunteers agree to follow Craftpedia’s core values:

  • Respect – Treat all cultures, traditions, and contributors with respect.
  • Accuracy – Strive for the highest level of factual and linguistic correctness.
  • Neutrality – Maintain objectivity and avoid personal opinions.
  • Transparency – Provide clear citations and reasons for changes.
  • Collaboration – Work constructively with others.
  • Inclusivity – Welcome contributions from people of all backgrounds.
  • Integrity – Avoid plagiarism, distortion, or unsourced claims.

Becoming a Volunteer

Anyone interested in joining Craftpedia may:

  • choose a role based on their skills;
  • begin by editing smaller articles to gain experience;
  • join discussions on talk pages;
  • contact existing editors for guidance;
  • follow all guidelines and specifications.

No formal application process exists; contributors improve the project by contributing.

Recognition

Although Craftpedia is a volunteer-driven project, contributions are recognized by:

  • attribution on edit histories;
  • community acknowledgement;
  • opportunities to take on greater editorial responsibility;
  • inclusion in project-wide acknowledgments (when applicable).

Version History

  • 1.0 – Initial release (English)