The WMF wants to buy you books!

Serendipity

The WMF wants to buy you books!

Sources are the most important part of writing quality content. But how do we get them? While it's hard to overstate the resources available through The Wikipedia Library, it doesn't have everything. Some editors have in-person access to great local or university libraries, and are able to share resources with volunteers at the resource exchange. But the resource exchange can be limited, especially with newer resources; due to copyright restrictions, full books cannot be shared, and often that's what is needed.

The resource support pilot (WP:RESUP) aims to fill this gap by purchasing resources directly for content editors. The pilot's been open since June, and so far has fulfilled about 20 requests.

What resources qualify?

We can support resources that will be used for creating content on Wikipedia, and which we are able to purchase and get to you. While this is mostly books, we can cover other types of resources too. For specifics, see the relevant FAQ section.

Before making a request, please attempt to get access from your local library and The Wikipedia Library. If your request is in scope of the resource exchange, an unsuccessful request there is required before we can purchase the resource.

Which editors can make requests?

Any extended confirmed user – like you! – can make a request. Again, please double-check that the source is not available using the Wikipedia Library or at your local library before filing a request.

Some Wikimedia movement affiliates have similar programs. If your local affiliate has such a program, we ask that you use their program instead.

How do I make a request?

Use the form on Wikipedia:Resource support pilot to create a page for your resource request and transclude it on Wikipedia:Resource support pilot/Requests. Please let RAdimer-WMF know if you have any questions.

Alternatives

You can often get copies of journal articles or dissertations/theses by contacting the author(s) directly! Many authors love to share their research far and wide, and are happy to have their work in a Wikipedia article. We are a top-ten website, after all.
The Internet Archive (archive.org) give gratis access to a wide variety of sources, including many books.

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15 January 2026 (all comments)

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About time! Carrite (talk) 15:41, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
- Indeed. Much smaller pl wiki had this kind of program active for years. It ridcolous it took so long for this to appear in English. --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 03:38, 16 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
Other alternatives include Wikipedia:The Wikipedia Library which, via the "database access" facility, gives free access to many journals. --𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 15:55, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
A lot of Internet Archive books are restricted, but you can check them out through WP:IAACCESS. Thebiguglyalien (talk) 🛸 16:32, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Christ, that is good to know. That is probably the best tip of the year. Kudos. scope_creep^Talk 20:32, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

I didn’t know about that! Time to pay the IA a visit :) Icepinner (Come to Hakurei Shrine!) 23:49, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Same. Of course, there is the question of "ethics" to consider. --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 03:42, 16 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Content editors need to be aware of the two places to get the absolute cheapest copies of books: BookFinder.com and AddAll.com. You can find even the most obscure books there, and at the very cheapest prices (often pennies on the dollar). The trick, at least for BookFinder, is to input the least amount of info, to get the largest range of results. Input the title without the opening "The" or "A"; omit subtitle; and input the author's LAST name only. That's it. Softlavender (talk) 20:37, 15 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]
This is useful, but I think it also bears mentioning that libraries are even better when you have access to them. I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of my local public libraries for research, and university libraries are obviously one of the best resources around if you have access to them. _signed,Rosguill ^talk 18:32, 16 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Libraries are great, and if you can't find the item in your local library catalog, you can check whether they can get it for you through inter-library loan. Many libraries participate in wide-ranging inter-library loan systems. FactOrOpinion (talk) 23:26, 16 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

And let's not forget the very useful shadow libraries. I wouldn't have written half of the content I did (as well) without them (the other half is thanks to Wikipedia Library, our Resource Exchange, occasional grant from Polish Wikimedia chapter, IA library and my university access - but that's only the other half... ok, maybe a third?). _{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 01:50, 17 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

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