Contributor Handbook

What the EUA Is

The Expanded Universe Atlas is a volunteer-run, non-commercial archive cataloguing officially published expanded universe works — novels, comics, audio dramas, games, and more — across 25+ major franchises.

Every franchise goes deeper than the films and series. The EUA makes that depth visible and navigable: one structured index recording publication order, regional availability, and cross-media relationships for every entry. No privileged continuity. No rankings. Just a complete, accurate record of what exists and where to find it.

The EUA carries no advertising, is not affiliated with any rights holder, and will never charge for access.

Your Role as a Contributor

Contributors are the backbone of franchise accuracy. Your work sits at the entry level of a four-tier structure, supported by Tab Leads and Franchise Leads who review and approve your submissions.

• Add new entries across media types — novels, comics, audio, games, and more
• Verify identifiers (ISBN, ASIN, Wikidata QID) against reliable sources
• Confirm regional availability and flag access restrictions
• Add placement and continuity notes where evidence supports them
• Maintain metadata accuracy and flag gaps for your Tab Lead
• Escalate ambiguity early rather than guessing

Five Principles

Every contribution to the EUA — however small — is grounded in five principles. These are not aspirational; they define what an acceptable entry looks like.

Getting Started

You do not need to read everything before your first contribution. Follow these three steps and you will be contributing real value within the hour.

1. 1
   Choose a franchise you already know

   Open its EUA sheet. Review the visible tabs — NOV for novels, COM for comics, AUD for audio, and so on. Look at the OVW tab for franchise-specific notes. Familiarity with the material is your biggest asset.

2. 2
   Review the core reference documents

   Before adding data, skim the Metadata Schema Quick Reference to understand field groups. You do not need to memorise the Field Specification Master — but you should know where it is and how to look something up in it.

3. 3
   Complete a starter task

   Begin with a microtask: verify three identifiers, confirm one availability field, or add one missing Wayback link. These build confidence with the schema and produce immediate, real value.

Understanding the Schema

Every row in an EUA franchise sheet follows a strict, standardised schema. Columns are grouped into functional zones. The full definitions live in the Field Specification Master — this overview covers what you need to contribute accurately.

Field groups

Media type codes

Identifier rules

• Always use ISBN-13 (13 digits, beginning 978 or 979) — never ISBN-10
• Use ASIN for digital-only releases where no ISBN exists
• Use Wikidata QID (format: Q followed by a number) for cross-database linking
• Verify all identifiers against the source directly — do not copy from aggregators without checking
• If an identifier cannot be confirmed, leave the field blank and note the gap — do not estimate

Adding Entries

Every new entry must be complete enough to be useful and honest enough to be trusted. Required fields must be populated before an entry is marked ready for review.

Required fields

What counts as expanded universe

Primary narrative works — films, mainline television, core games — are not expanded universe material. They appear in franchise sheets only as relational anchors. Everything officially published beyond those primary works is in scope: novels, comics, audio dramas, short stories, non-fiction companions, soundtracks, stage productions, and more.

Verification Standards

Before marking any entry as verified, you must have confirmed each field against a reliable source directly — not copied from another archive, aggregator, or AI output without cross-checking.

Verification checklist

• ISBN-13 validated against WorldCat, GoodReads, or the publisher's own catalogue
• Publication date confirmed against the publisher or a primary retail source
• Availability confirmed against a current, accessible source — not assumed from age or reputation
• Source URL is direct, accessible, and points specifically to the work (not a homepage)
• Wayback link captured for the source URL
• Contributor fields completed with your handle and today's date

Verification tiers

Starter Tasks

The most valuable first contributions are verification and gap-finding. If you know a franchise, you already have what it takes. Start wherever feels right — even a single microtask produces real value.

Microtasks · 2–5 minutes

Beginner tasks · 5–15 minutes

Intermediate tasks · 15–30 minutes

Escalation

Escalation is not a sign that something went wrong — it is how the EUA maintains accuracy in genuinely complex cases. When you are unsure, escalate. Do not guess and do not delay.

Escalate when

• Classification is unclear — you are not sure which tab a work belongs in
• Placement evidence conflicts — two sources point to different positions
• Continuity is genuinely ambiguous — you cannot write a neutral, sourced note
• A work spans multiple media types and you are unsure how to handle it
• An identifier does not exist in any database
• Something in the schema does not fit the work you are cataloguing

The escalation chain

When escalating, provide: the entry in question, the ambiguity you have identified, and the evidence you have found so far. Your Tab Lead will take it from there.

Language & Notes

The language you use in notes is as important as the data you record. Every note must be descriptive and neutral — it records what is there, not what you think it means.

Permitted placement language

• "Occurs before…"
• "Occurs after…"
• "Parallel to…"
• "Set during…"

Permitted continuity language

• "Introduces…"
• "Contradicts…"
• "Expands…"
• "Retcons…"

One word that never appears in the EUA

The word canon does not appear anywhere in EUA metadata. Use the rights-holder's own designation where one exists, or mark the field Undesignated. The EUA records what is true, not what is privileged.

Common Errors to Avoid

These are the mistakes that appear most often in new contributions. Being aware of them now will save your Tab Lead time and protect the quality of the archive.

• ✕
  Using ISBN-10 instead of ISBN-13The EUA uses ISBN-13 only. If you have a 10-digit ISBN, convert it or locate the 13-digit version from the publisher's catalogue directly.
• ✕
  Copying identifiers from aggregators without verifyingGoodReads, Amazon, and other aggregators contain errors — particularly for edition-specific ISBNs. Always verify against the publisher or WorldCat.
• ✕
  Unsupported availability claimsDo not mark a work as globally available because it was once widely distributed. Verify current availability from an accessible source.
• ✕
  Speculative placementIf you cannot source a placement note from a reliable reference, leave the field blank and note the gap. "I think this comes after X" is not an EUA placement note.
• ✕
  Interpretive continuity notesNotes like "This story seems to suggest the character later changed" are analyses, not records. The EUA records verifiable relationships between works only.
• ✕
  Placing an entry in the wrong tabIf you are unsure which tab a work belongs in, check the Tab-by-Tab Methodology Reference before adding it. If still unclear, escalate — do not guess.
• ✕
  Using the word "canon"Never appears in EUA metadata. Use the rights-holder's designation, or mark the field Undesignated.
• ✕
  Leaving contributor fields blankYour handle and contribution date are required on every entry. They are what makes the archive transparent and maintainable over time.

Growth Path

There is no pressure to progress beyond the Contributor role — consistent, accurate contribution at any level is genuinely valuable. But if you want to take on more responsibility, the pathway is clear.

Progression is based on demonstrated competence — not time served or enthusiasm alone. Progression decisions rest with the Lead Archivist following quarterly reviews.