Iranian Wikimedians User Group/Introduction to Wikidata at the University of Hamburg

On January 8, 2025, a presentation titled Developing Knowledge Organization on Wikidata for Persian Manuscripts was delivered by Darafsh at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, University of Hamburg. The event focused on the powerful role of Wikidata in organizing and preserving knowledge about Persian manuscripts.

The presentation began by introducing Persian manuscripts, which include works in Old, Middle, and New Persian. With an estimated 3 to 5 million manuscripts spread across Iran, India, Turkey, Europe, and the United States, their historical and cultural significance was emphasized. However, the challenge of systematically documenting and sharing this vast heritage highlighted the need for Wikidata.

The research presented uses Wikidata as the key platform for addressing these challenges. By creating standardized metadata, the project aims to enhance the accessibility and usability of Persian manuscripts. Each manuscript will be assigned a unique URL on Wikidata, enabling easy identification, linking, and integration across digital platforms. This will not only ensure better organization but also facilitate collaboration between scholars and institutions globally.

Examples of Persian manuscripts from the Bodleian Library at Oxford University were used to demonstrate how Wikidata can document and link detailed metadata, such as authors, locations, and historical contexts. The expected outcomes include a comprehensive metadata schema that will improve the discoverability and preservation of Persian manuscripts while showcasing the capabilities of Wikidata as a powerful tool for cultural heritage projects.