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_oโฆ) and Noopur's story of the Gujarati Wikisource (http://blog.wikimedia.in/2012/04/04/realizing-the-dreams-of-communities-3-yโฆ)
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
Cross posting. FYI.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Noopur Raval <nraval(a)wikimedia.org>
Date: Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Subject: [Blog]: The source of Gujarati Wikisource
To: Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Dear all,
As you might have read earlier, the Gujarati Wikisource was launched
recently on March 27th and is now active with 1000 articles and 1 book
already. As part of the story telling series, here is the wonderful
story<http://blog.wikimedia.in/2012/04/04/realizing-the-dreams-of-communities-3-yโฆ>of
a a journey that started with one member who filed the request to
create Wikisource, 2 members who joined in for their love of Bhajans, and
gradually a group of 6 members who helped reach the 1000 article mark.
The passion and enthusiasm of the Gujarati community members for their
language is very motivating, especially to all Indic Wikipedians who strive
for the same cause. This story will also interest those communities
interested in starting a Wikisource of their own. Most importantly, it
shows the power of individual community members and how community
collaboration is so magical and constructive!
Thank you,
Regards
Noopur
[1]
http://blog.wikimedia.in/2012/04/04/realizing-the-dreams-of-communities-3-yโฆ
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Noopur Raval
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Noopur Raval