Wikisource Loves Manuscripts/Learning Partners Network

Wikisource Loves Manuscripts is a call-to-action and a project to support the digitization of manuscripts on Wikisource.

The Wikisource Love Manuscripts (WiLMa) Learning Partners Network aims to foster collaboration among communities interested in digitizing and transcribing manuscripts. The project will provide the necessary support, training, and resources to enable participating communities to successfully undertake manuscript digitisation projects.

Learning Plan

The cohort is designed to enable participants with necessary skills, resources, and support to undertake successful manuscript digitization projects. This will include some learning showcases, hands-on trainings, and practical assignments. We will also provide a peer learning and collaboration space to learning partners to share their knowledge and best practices. The cohort includes a diverse group of participants representative of our movement. We believe by the end of the cohort members of Learning Partners Network (LPN) will continue preserving manuscripts, which will contribute to sustained efforts in improving digital access to reliable and locally relevant knowledge sources that are crucial for Wikimedia's sustainability, as well as the wider Internet.

Collaborative Community Building: WiLMa Learning Partners Network is dedicated to creating a collaborative ecosystem. We bring together communities who share an interest in digitizing and transcribing manuscripts. By joining our network, you become part of a dynamic community of like-minded individuals and groups, fostering meaningful connections and knowledge exchange.

Enabling Resources and Training: Our project is committed to enable participants. We provide comprehensive support, training, and a wealth of resources to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on manuscript digitization projects successfully.

Successful Manuscript Digitization: At the core of WiLMa Learning Partners Network is the goal of achieving successful manuscript digitization projects. We guide you through the entire process, from project planning and execution to quality assurance. By joining our network, you gain access to best practices, expert guidance, and a supportive community to ensure your manuscript digitization projects are a resounding success.

The cohort of Learning Partners Network will begin from October 10th till March 14th. Total commitment hours required for the 6 months cohort is of ~20 hours, or 3 hours a month; which includes virtual sessions and assignments.

What to expect?

Introduction to Wikisource - Advance training
Advanced digitisation training on manuscripts digitisation
Sessions on grants, partnerships, and others
Q&A hours
Knowledge sharing spaces
Introduction to Transkribus - HTR hands-on training
Project showcase
1:1 time with instructors, project team, and Wikisource Fellows.

Participants will receive necessary badges for completing each session or training, and a certification for successfully completing the cohort.

Instructors

PPIM:
Transkibus:

Monthly Updates

October 2023

We have launched an initiative to advance the evolution of a learning partners network dedicated to collectively working, engaging, and advocating for the preservation of knowledge through manuscript digitization within the Wikimedia Movement. This network comprises 21 members who represent 8 diverse regions worldwide and representing 12 different languages.

November 2023

During November we provided our second training to the participants, which involved an introduction to Transkribus, how to transcribe historical documents using Transkribus, enabling Transkribus OCR into your language Wikisource, and how to train a model if it isn't available in your language.
We also had an opportunity to meet members of our Learning Partners Network at the GLAM Wiki conference in Montevideo.

December 2023

In the brief yet eventful month of December, we organized a concise but engaging session that delved into the intricacies of partnerships. The session was conducted by our colleague, Sakti, focusing around the concept of "connecting the dots" and its significance in initiating WiLMa projects.
The session prompted participants to explore the nuanced aspects of connecting the dots within the context of their WiLMa projects.

January 2024

Our Grants Session offered insight into rapid grants and grant opportunities for Wikisource Loves Manuscripts projects. Participants engaged in discussions aimed at enabling them with the essential knowledge to secure funding for their initiatives. Utilizing the Project Template, attendees had the chance to sketch out project details and contribute significantly to the success of Wikisource Loves Manuscripts.

February 2024

At the British Library Session, participants were provided valuable insights into resources available through the British Library and Endangered Archive Project (EAP). The session covered planning and executing digitization projects, conservation, and digital preservation. Staff from EAP shared useful resources, including the Capture book for digitization project guidance, training videos on conservation and digital preservation on YouTube with subtitles in multiple languages, and information on grants offered by EAP for various projects.

March 2024

We have concluded the cohort with certifying 12 community members finishing the training and workshops during the cohort, and showing interest to expand the Wikisource Loves Manuscripts project to their language.

First Cohort of Learning Partners Network

This user is a member of Wikisource Loves Manuscripts Learning Partners Network.

Ongoing projects

Twelve participants successfully completed the 6-month training and follow-up projects are already underway:

Irvin Sto. Tomas from the PhilWiki Community UG engaged his community to grow the Wikisource community in the Philippines. Due to their efforts, Bikol Central Wikisource was launched in October 2024.
Assamese contributor Animesh secured Wikimedia Foundation funding for a pilot project to document and digitize ancient manuscripts. Read more about Animesh’s aspirations for the project in this interview.

Learning partners sign-up

The first cohort of the WiLMa Learning Partners Network has begun. Sign-up below to express your interest to join a future cohort:

Example: Affiliate/community/organization name, focus languages/scripts, any other details including links
Beireke1 (talk) 13:09, 24 August 2023 (UTC) working for meemoo, Flemish institute for archives, focus mainly on Dutch language (contemporary and historical variants)[reply]
Darafsh (talk) Iranian Wikimedian UG, Persian manuscripts
Ifedohlapo(talk) member of Nigerian Wikimedia UG, worling for Free Knowledge Africa, focused on (Nigerian Public Domain works)