Note: This was a draft that is not part of the November 30, 2009 Signpost issue. Instead, the story was incorporated into the "News and notes" section of that issue. See also Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-12-07/Editorial.
Tropenmuseum donates 35,000 images
As you may know, we have been partnering with the Tropenmuseum for some time now. The relation that we are building is intensive but worthwhile. From the moment we got together we have been talking in terms of doing relatively small steps at a time and make all these parts count. Given that the Tropenmuseum has more then 100.000 images about Indonesia alone, does not mean for the Tropenmuseum that all these images are useful or a good ambassador for the Tropenmuseum.
The result is that while we may end up getting less material, we end up getting material with a higher quality. This is exactly where the value of a partnership kicks in. The Tropenmuseum is the custodian of the original material and they can and do make new scans and new pictures of these objects. Effectively there are two lists generated; one with material that we get now and one with material that needs to be improved on. Our community plays a part in what omproved material we get. Durova thinks the picture of the Nias megalith has potential and a tiff will be created for her so that she can do the best possible digital restoration.
The great thing about the Tropenmuseum material is that it is not only important material, but that it is appreciated as such. Many people are working hard on giving all the images their place in the categories, translating the annotations and writing articles on the many Wikipedias. The Tropenmuseum considers it the cherry on the cake that it is particularly the Indonesian Wikipedia who is most involved.
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