This post was prepared by the Wikisource Conference 2025 Organizing Team
After a decade-long wait, Wikisource volunteers from around the world finally had the chance to meet again at the International Wikisource Conference 2025, held in Bali, Indonesia. The last global Wikisource gathering took place in Vienna in 2015, making this reunion a truly momentous occasion for the community. Bali was chosen as the venue for this event due to its deep historical ties to the Wikisource Loves Manuscripts (WiLMa) project, an initiative inspired by the Wikimedia community in Bali to preserve endangered lontar (palm leaf) manuscripts on Wikisource. The event brought together over 100 participants from every continent, representing diverse perspectives from around the globe. Hosted from February 14 to 16, 2025, the conference was filled with inspiring keynotes, engaging workshops, and thought-provoking discussions, all aimed at shaping the future of Wikisource.
The conference was themed “Wikisource: Transform & Preserve Heritage Digitally” and featured a vibrant mix of sessions designed to engage and inspire. A lineup of keynote speakers provided invaluable insights into manuscript preservation, digital tools, and future collaborations. On Day 1, Munawar Holil (Indonesian Manuscript Society/Manassa) and Cokorda Rai Adi Paramartha (Udayana University) shared their expertise on Indonesian manuscript preservation, highlighting the importance of technological advancements such as the development of a keyboard in digitizing Balinese script. Their discussion inspired ideas for new collaborations between local experts and the Wikisource community. Day 2 featured Dr. Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert (British Library), who explored opportunities for Wikisource communities to contribute multilingual transcriptions for the Ground Truth initiative. Cassie Chan (Google Asia Pacific) introduced Google’s work in digitizing physical content through Google Books and Google Arts & Culture while raising critical questions about the challenges of AI-generated images. On Day 3, Andy Stauder (READ-COOP) reinforced READ-COOP’s commitment to Wikisource by discussing advancements in Transkribus’ Automatic Text Recognition (ATR), a machine learning tool designed to enhance manuscript transcription efficiency.
The event also featured hands-on workshops, allowing participants to explore practical applications of new technologies. Lightning talks provided quick insights into various projects, while community meetups fostered collaboration. Cultural immersion activities like the Cultural Village Trip and the Pasar Seni Photowalk offered participants a deeper appreciation of Balinese art and traditions, further enriching the conference experience.
One of the most highly anticipated discussions during the conference was unveiling conversations related to the Wikisource Roadmap, a strategic vision for the platform’s growth and development in the coming years. Participants were enthusiastic about the roadmap’s focus on strengthening the governance of the Wikisource community, improving user experience, expanding partnerships, and enhancing technical tools for manuscript digitization. The roadmap will serve as a blueprint for Wikisource’s continued evolution as a vital resource for digital preservation and open knowledge sharing.
As the conference concluded, attendees left Bali with renewed energy and a shared commitment to advancing Wikisource’s mission. The event reaffirmed the platform’s vital role in preserving historical texts and disseminating free knowledge. With new collaborations, enhanced technological tools, and an upcoming roadmap for the future, the Wikisource community is poised for even more remarkable achievements in the years to come. The Wikisource Conference 2025 was more than just a reunion, it was a celebration of a global movement dedicated to preserving and sharing the world’s literary heritage.
Watch the highlight video to experience the feeling and participants’ reactions at the Wikisource Conference 2025, here on Wikimedia Commons.
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