T’puram: People will soon be able to search and access encyclopaedic information in Malayalam online, as State Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications (SIEP) plans to launch an online encyclopaedia on Kerala as part of its shift from print to digital.The move comes after the institute’s success in producing audiobooks, short videos and short write-ups on its website and because of a thought that printed encyclopaedias have limited reception. The online multilingual Kerala Vijnanakosam being planned will be a community-involved initiative by which people will be able to upload information, photos, videos and audio, that will be verified and published, said Muse Mary George, director, SIEP. She said that work is more or less complete and script preparation is on about Kollam district, and the encyclopaedia will be a live project by which it will undergo constant updation as and when new things happen regarding the districts. “The idea is to include college students and residents in gathering information about almost everything about a locality, including its culture, habits and cuisine,” she added. Updation of information in encyclopaedias and short encyclopaedias will start soon to offer a searchable digital version in association with CDIT. “The information in these books needs to be updated before they are digitized. A weeklong camp may have to be done to update these works,” she said. She said that 50% of the output will be digital – podcasts, videos, website, audiobooks – the rest will be printed publications. ‘Moolaka Vijnana Kosham’, a printed book, has been made into an audiobook with audio-friendly script and there are plans to make some of the mini encyclopaedias into audiobooks. “There is a need for a recording studio and funds sanctioned by state govt will be used for the project,” she added. In addition to audiobooks and YouTube videos, the next step is aimed at creating interviews. The institute released five mini encyclopaedias, including ‘Keralathinde Paristhitika Charitra Vijnanakosam’ (Encyclopaedia of Kerala’s Environment History) and ‘Samudrajaiva Vaividhyavum Sambadvyavastayum’ (Marine Biodiversity and Economy), on Thursday. Travancore Devaswom Board president and retired bureaucrat K Jayakumar released the publications and said that it is good that the institute is prepared for an online transition.
