Grants:IEG/Digitization of Important Libraries Book Catalog in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
This project is funded by an Individual Engagement Grant
Project idea[edit]
What is the problem you're trying to solve?[edit]
An important problem that Telugu Wikipedia faces is the lack of adequate citations to articles. This to an extent is symptomatic of a larger and complex problem. Though a number of books and journals have been published in Telugu language during the last 150 years, a majority of this knowledge is not accessible on the Internet. Whether one likes it or not, in this age and time, if a book or a journal is not easily accessible then one believes it does not exist. Virtual accessibility of at least the existence of the book or a knowledge resources is no more a luxury but a necessity for an emerging knowledge society like India. And accessibility to Indian language resources that are otherwise lying in the untouched shelves of libraries is even a bigger necessity for the vast numbers of “only Telugu” speaking/reading/writing population that is coming onto the virtual web. The problems for the growth of open knowledge in an Indian language like Telugu are very complex. This project is an attempt to solve a very tiny part of that problem. It is to make the existence of a vast number of Telugu Books visible on the web. There are already certain number of copyright lapsed Telugu books that are available on Archive.org and Digital Library of India. However, a vast number of books that got published during the last 70 years are mostly available in the form of (mostly) manual library catalogs. While some libraries do have digital catalogs they are mostly in English and are offline.
Take a simple test. Search for some of the notable Telugu books or search by keywords or authors and you hardly find relevant and useful information. Even the existing details of books available in public domain are enumerated in English and a seeker of knowledge has to try various permutation and combinations to discover that something exists on an open platform like DLI and Archive.org.
What is your solution?[edit]
In this context, this project proposes to digitize and make openly available in a searchable form the Telugu book catalogs of at least 10 most important libraries. The logic of this project is that if the book is visible (for the seeker and searcher of knowledge on the Internet) it becomes accessible, once accessible it becomes readable and then citable. If the book is available on the web then it will be hyper-linked. These digital catalogs will be of use to young researchers, scholars, readers, journalists and Wikipedians within the Telugu knowledge universe, who are increasingly depending on the web to search for knowledge resources. While this project is clear that it cannot make available the books to the seeker of knowledge, at the least it shows her the nearby library location from where it could be accessed.
For a Telugu Wikipedian like me, who otherwise is busy with life and gets onto to Wikipedia late in the night to share some knowledge and wastes a lot of time searching for relevant books in Telugu, I believe this project will be that first step to save time. The digital catalogs, I believe, will help the Telugu Wikipedians in effectively (saving a lot of time) collecting information, sources and add citations to articles on Telugu Wikipedia. By covering 10 most important libraries across various cities, this project also aims to create a network among the Telugu Wikipedians to collaborate in search and cite operations on Telugu Wikipedia. For instance, I realize that there is a book (thanks to this digital catalog) in Hyderabad, which is 600 km away from where I am, I can take the help of my fellow Wikipedian User:Rajasekhar1961 in getting the relevant information from the book. I know I am not wasting too much of his time as I have already located the book for him. I believe that these digital catalogs could also help strengthen the networks among the Telugu Wikipedians in a subtle way. Needless to say that this project will help improve the quality of articles over the years to come in terms of citations and references and also could trigger creation of new articles.
As I propose to host the catalogs on Telugu Wikipedia, it may also attract new users to the Telugu Wikimedia projects and help them in finding readily available resources to write and cite from.
At least 3 edit-a-thons will be organized with Telugu Wikimedians in these libraries, where in citation and article writing sprints will be take up as activities.
In the process of digitization of these important libraries, efforts will also be put to reach out to the people visiting these libraries and give orientation on Telugu Wikimedia projects. Interested library staff across these 10 libraries will also be initiated to contribute to Telugu Wikimedia projects.
Project goals[edit]
- Selecting important libraries (mostly prefering private libraries) having rare books and digitizing the catalogs of those libraries into unicode.
- To publish them as a open source content in telugu wikipedia page, Access to knowledge Blog and website, various telugu web magazines.
- Conducting edit-a-thons in those libraries with telugu wiki-community and Improving existing wiki pages through adding the sources and citations.
- Synergizing wikipedia with those library reader associations and turning the readers and librarians into wikipedians by conducting awareness programs.
Project plan[edit]
Activities[edit]
As for Community Suggestions i am making this priject as 2 parts, phase 1 and Phase 2
1st Phase[edit]
in the 1st phase Digitization of Telugu book catalogs in 5 important libraries across Andhra Pradesh in the period of 6 months
- Selecting 5 prominent libraries in Andhra pradesh, especially east and west godavari districts, where Library movement flourished in past century
- Visit and scanning or taking xerox copies of written catalogues with prior permission from librarians.
- Collecting history of those libraries and should add that information with the catalogue
- Digitizing the catalogs and library details through Excel sheets.
- Those computerized/digitized Excel sheets should be converted into wiki markup code.
- Making that content accessible to wikipedians and other netizens by publishing them in wikipedia, wikisource, wikibooks
- Collecting the details of the donors(who are prominent in library movement and Andhra pradesh history too) and developing essays using that info.
- Generating the inter-wiki links of the information present in the catalogue.
- Developing the wiki pages of certain library, prominent persons related to the library history, villages/towns history with the information collected on the visit to libraries.
- Organize 2 edit-a-thons with Telugu Wikimedians and do citation and article creation sprint. The exact details and participation will be worked out in consultation with the community.
- Undertake Telugu Wikipedia and Wikisource orientation sessions in these libraries.
- Publicize this project through social media among various interest groups and research networks that are interested in Telugu books and Telugu resources.
Budget[edit]
| Sl | Particulars | Unit Cost | Extended Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subsistence allowance for 6 Months | Rs. 20,000/- per month | Rs. 1,20,000 (USD - 1928.02) |
| 2 | Travel (per centre 2 visits) x 5 locations | Rs. 2,500/- | Rs. 25,000 (USD - 401.67) |
| 3 | Food and Accommodation (per visit 2 days x 2 visits per location x 5 locations) | Rs. 2,500/- per day | Rs. 50,000 (USD - 803.34) |
| 4 | Telecom/Internet Expenses | Rs. 1,500/- per month | Rs. 9,000 (USD - 144.60) |
| 5 | Community event expenses (2 events) | Rs. 5,000/- | Rs. 10,000 (USD - 160.67) |
| 6 | Outreach expenses at Libraries (1 event per Library x 5 Libraries) | Rs. 10,000/- | Rs. 50,000 (USD - 803.34) |
| 7 | Miscellaneous (stationary, print, etc) | Rs. 1,000/- per month | Rs. 6,000 (USD - 96.40) |
| 8 | TOTAL | Rs. 2,70,000 (USD - 4365.04) |
2nd Phase[edit]
in the 2nd phase Digitization of Telugu book catalogs in 5 important libraries across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the period of 6 months
- Selecting 5 prominent libraries in Andhra pradesh, especially east and west godavari districts, where Library movement flourished in past century
- Visit and scanning or taking xerox copies of written catalogues with prior permission from librarians.
- Collecting history of those libraries and should add that information with the catalogue
- Digitizing the catalogs and library details through Excel sheets.
- Those computerized/digitized Excel sheets should be converted into wiki markup code.
- Making that content accessible to wikipedians and other netizens by publishing them in wikipedia, wikisource, wikibooks
- Collecting the details of the donors(who are prominent in library movement and Andhra pradesh history too) and developing essays using that info.
- Generating the inter-wiki links of the information present in the catalogue.
- Developing the wiki pages of certain library, prominent persons related to the library history, villages/towns history with the information collected on the visit to libraries.
- Organize 2 edit-a-thons with Telugu Wikimedians and do citation and article creation sprint. The exact details and participation will be worked out in consultation with the community.
- Undertake Telugu Wikipedia and Wikisource orientation sessions in these libraries.
- Publicize this project through social media among various interest groups and research networks that are interested in Telugu books and Telugu resources.
Budget[edit]
| Sl | Particulars | Unit Cost | Extended Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subsistence allowance for 6 Months | Rs. 20,000/- per month | Rs. 1,20,000 (USD - 1928.02) |
| 2 | Travel (per centre 2 visits) x 5 locations | Rs. 2,500/- | Rs. 25,000 (USD - 401.67) |
| 3 | Food and Accommodation (per visit 2 days x 2 visits per location x 5 locations) | Rs. 2,500/- per day | Rs. 50,000 (USD - 803.34) |
| 4 | Telecom/Internet Expenses | Rs. 1,500/- per month | Rs. 9,000 (USD - 144.60) |
| 5 | Community event expenses (2 events) | Rs. 5,000/- | Rs. 10,000 (USD - 160.67) |
| 6 | Outreach expenses at Libraries (1 event per Library x 5 Libraries) | Rs. 10,000/- | Rs. 50,000 (USD - 803.34) |
| 7 | Miscellaneous (stationary, print, etc) | Rs. 1,000/- per month | Rs. 6,000 (USD - 96.40) |
| 8 | TOTAL | Rs. 2,70,000 (USD - 4365.04) |
Community engagement[edit]
- Edit-a-thon at 4 libraries with Telugu Wikimedians
- Outreach cum orientation sessions in 1st phase at 5 libraries and 2nd phase at 5 libraries (interested staff and visitors)
- Various research and book lover networks through social media
Sustainability[edit]
12 months for 2 phases
Measures of success[edit]
- Digitizing book catalogs of 8 to 12 libraries from Andhra pradesh,Telangana and some places where Telugu culture is prevalent.
- Conducting awareness programs in libraries to respective library readers which results in enriching Telugu wikipedia with at least 20 to 40 new wikimedians.
- Conducting at least 3 edit-a-thons which result in improving quality of at least existing 100 articles in Telugu wikipedia by adding necessary citations and sources.
Get involved[edit]
Participants[edit]
- Since 2006 I am a telugu wikipedian , working in Telugu Wiki quot, Telugu Wiki source and in Telugu Wiktionary
- As an admin in telugu Wikipedia from July 2007.
- Participated in every function organized by Telugu Wiki Community
- Acted as a President in Telugu Wikipedia 10th anniversary
Community Notification[edit]
- Telugu Wiktionary Notification - [[3]]
Endorsements[edit]
Do you think this project should be selected for an Individual Engagement Grant? Please add your name and rationale for endorsing this project in the list below. (Other constructive feedback is welcome on the talk page of this proposal).
Support I support this project, there is good information about the science, arts, culture, music, development of telugu literature. I don't find any individual/ group and government contribution towards digitization - Kasyap --Kasyap (talk) 13:12, 30 September 2014 (UTC)- Support India is swell with ancient wisdom. However, most of such treasures are languishing within the pulp archives and palm leaves within libraries and private collections which are direly in want of resources for preserving their priceless material. Before it is too late, somebody should act and retrieve at least what is still left. My wholehearted support to this project. ViswaPrabhaവിശ്വപ്രഭtalk 12:06, 2 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support--Manojk (talk) 19:10, 2 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support This project is much required for the conventional libraries that do not upgrade to current technologies and are adhered to old traditional book keeping. This project could also be replicated at various other libraries. This would benefit both Wikipedia and book seekers equally. --Rahmanuddin (talk) 17:34, 4 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support India is very rich in ancient wisdom. However, most of such treasures are languishing within the archives and palm leaves within libraries and private collections which are direly in want of resources for preserving their priceless material. Before it is too late, we should act and retrieve at least what is still left with us now. This project is much required for the conventional libraries that do not upgrade to current technologies and are adhered to old traditional book keeping. This project could also be replicated at various other libraries. This would benefit both Wikipedia, Wikisource and book seekers and language researchers. My whole hearted support to this. We must also start similar projects in other Indian languages also.--Rajasekhar1961 (talk) 05:37, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support In case of physical libraries, Telugu people take initiation in early 20th century and I'm very glad again someone from Telugu people going to take initiative steps to extend those efforts by our visionaries into digital world. I wholeheartedly feel this will be a great project to help wikimedia and telugu culture as well. --Pavan santhosh.s (talk) 05:54, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support --Pranayraj1985 (talk) 05:56, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support I support this project, it helps to develop the content in various fields like science, arts, culture, music and the development of telugu literature.This would benefit both Wikipedia and book seekers equally.--K.Venkataramana (talk) 06:02, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support --Good project.I too support this project.Please try to get very rare old books such as vastugunadeepika (ayurveda materia medica)chatupadyalu,sametalu,lyrics of old telugu cinema songs etc.,and make them available ni wiki source.--Nrahamthulla (talk) 06:27, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support Support Bhaskaranaidu (talk) 14:05, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- I hope this project would help wikipedians to give citations. and improve the number of new articles and expand the old articles with full fledged information. Bhaskaranaidu (talk) 14:30, 5 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support Seems like a pretty good project. --Satdeep gill (talk) 13:24, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support --Good project. -Malladi kameswara rao (talk) 19:22, 8 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support This will be useful to wikipedians. Good Project Arkrishna (talk) 22:12, 9 October 2014 (UTC)
- This is a timely project which could be emulated across all our languages. The initiators should look at similar projects like Archive and Access (http://publicarchives.org/introducing-archives-and-access.html), and the work being done at Jadavpur University's School for Cultural Texts and Records, to see if there any learnings they could glean from there. Could the initiators list out which libraries they are planning to look at in AP and Telengana? Tniranjana (talk) 11:11, 17 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support--Mrutyunjaya Kar (talk) 07:02, 19 October 2014 (UTC)
- Support --Naidugari Jayanna (talk) 15:24, 7 January 2015 (UTC)
