India Program: Fortnightly IRC: Indic Languages: Thursday April 5th 9pm (IST): #wikimedia-office - Wikikn-l

5 Apr 2012

Hi Folks

Reminder about the IRC  today (9pm IST on Thursday April 5th)  Do join us using this link:
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#wikimedia-office.

Here is what we would like to discuss today - which we shall do for the first 45 minutes
and then throw it open for 15 minutes for any other topics that anyone wants to discuss
related to India Program.

You may have noticed that we are increasing our emphasis on Wikisource.  Please see
Shiju's post on using simple technology to support digitazation
(http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/India_Program/Indic_Languages/Digitization_o…)
and Noopur's story of the Gujarati Wikisource
(http://blog.wikimedia.in/2012/04/04/realizing-the-dreams-of-communities-3-y…)

In addition, Shiju has been engaged with other communities on how to start or accelerate
their respective language Wikisources.  

Wikisource has some very important characteristics that make it attractive.  

It's a (relatively) easier way for newbies to start contributing than the respective
Wikipedia
It's a great way to reach out to language lovers - and love for a language is an
important motivator for contribution (on this and other projects)
There is a much lower gender gap on Wikisource, and it's easy for a wider age group to
contribute
It's more "accessible" as an entry point to newbies because it has less
policies than other projects
It's can act as a gateway to other projects

In today's IRC, we'd like to talk through the work that's happening on
Wikisource by many communities, discuss best practices and provide a channel of support
for anyone interested in joining the project from any language.  

Speak soon.

hisham