It started with a "Sztambuch" (Album amicorum): The TranskriBUW group - from promotion of the BUW manuscript collection to engagement in joint transcription – presentation

Like many academic libraries, the University of Warsaw Library (BUW) faces the challenge of the limited research usability of the valuable manuscripts in its collections. While these materials are available as high-resolution scans in the University of Warsaw Digital Library, CRISPA, their full scholarly potential—for analysis and searchability—depends on accurate textual transcriptions. Recognizing this challenge, BUW’s Promotion Department took an active interest in addressing the issue and sought ways to bridge the gap between non-searchable archival documents and public engagement. This led to the launch of a dedicated Facebook-based community, TranskriBUW – We Decode Manuscripts. By adopting a citizen science framework, the department aimed to transform manuscript transcription from a solitary task into a collaborative and participatory initiative. This presentation focuses on the communication dynamics developed within the TranskriBUW group. It examines the communication strategies, outreach activities, and community events designed to encourage participation and sustain members’ engagement in the transcription of valuable manuscripts from the BUW collections.