CIS-A2K had detailed meeting with Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir library trustees about the proposed Wikibase pilot project on 4 November 2022. The key persons engaged in this two hour orientation session understood the Wikidata, Wikibase concepts and discussed about the potential, tentative process and the future impact. The format for preparing the structured data of authors and their works for Marathi language was finalised. The library has initiated the metadata activity. We have been partnering with this library for the last two years to enrich the content about the books on Wikimedia projects. The digitisation project has added 650 books to the free library, Wikisource and media on Wikimedia Commons. The database of all these books with keywords, tags etc. will be prepared. The data of public domain books will facilitate the process of digitisation by ensuring the priority of rare and old valuable reference books.
The process of developing the database of all the PD books and authors for Wikibase is vast and time consuming. Hence, it was decided to collaborate with other reputed libraries in the state. The first visit to one such library, Pune Marathi Granthalay was done on 4 November. The management members have extended cooperation for the project.
