We report on the issues raised as matters to do with Information (I), with Technology (T) and with IT. In the UK the doctoral thesis is a distinct information work in its own right, a product of supervised research; it is not a bound collection of previously published articles. Typically, students undertake three years full time study for a doctorate, although they may take much longer to submit a completed thesis for examination, despite pressures from funding bodies for speedier completion rate. Once examined, possibly revised and accepted as the basis for the award of a doctorate, the thesis is lodged with the university library, where there is a risk of obscurity as grey literature, despite the inclusion of bibliographic information in library catalogues and the British Library British Thesis Service.
We regard the thesis as an underused information resource. This is largely because of the lack of immediate access, and perhaps because of restrictions associated with the consultation of theses. With easy online access to journal articles the contrast in ease of use is the more evident.
Many aspects of technological developments such as increased use of the distributed client-server architecture, the use of the Web and protocols such as z39.50, are beginning to feed into the debate about how best to provide access to electronically published information emanating from universities. Initiatives in the UK, especially those funded through the electronic libraries programme (eLib) funded by JISC, have been addressing the application of these developments. However, electronic access to theses has special requirements, not least the need for cultural shifts in academic institutions and among the academic and research community at large.
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Peter Burnhill Director Edinburgh University Library EDINA and Data Library George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland P.Burnhill@ed.ac.uk |
Alason Roberts Sub Librarian, Bibliographic Services Edinburgh University Library Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland a.roberts@ed.ac.uk |
| Nordisk konferanse om elektronisk publisering | Programme in English |