Ensuring Long-term Access to Electronic Theses and

Dissertations: Local vs. Global Lifecycle Management

Daniel Gelaw Alemneh,University of North Texas

TLA-2014 ConferenceConvention Center, San Antonio, Texas

Background

◦ Physical vs. Digital (ETD)

◦ Metadata and Cataloguing

Access and Preservation

◦ Format and Integration

◦ Local workflows

Lifecycle Management

◦ IMLS funded National Project

◦ Summary

Outline:

  Increasingly, higher education institutions

worldwide are accepting only electronic versions of their students’ theses and dissertations. ◦ Libraries have traditionally been responsible for collecting

and curating

The University of North Texas (UNT) began accepting theses and dissertations in electronic format in 1999. ◦ UNT is one of the early adopters of what was to become

the ETD movement in higher education◦ One of the first three American universities to require

ETDs for graduation.

Background:

 

Isness versus Aboutness

Symphony: no. 40, G minor, K.V. 550, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791

The characteristic symphony in the age of Haydn and Beethoven, by Richard James Will

Music has Isness in the Subjects

Sonatas Symphonies Concertos Trios

Books about Music and other topics denote aboutness

Sonata (as a form) Symphony (as a form) Opera (as a genre)

RDA/FRBR versus BibFrames

Currently in MaRC Similar to Dublin core

RDA / FRBR

Work Expression Manifestation Item

Bibliographic Framework (BibFrames)

Creative Work Instance Authority Annotation

Cataloging versus Digital Projects Objectives

Cataloging

Description for international audience

Unification of all metadata, PDF files, recordings

Linkage between various files, audio or text

Digital Projects

Metadata for each item,

Access to the PDF files Access to Recordings Local usage of audio

files

ETD Lifecycle Management Project

◦Lifecycle Management of ETDs IMLS National Leadership Grant Duration 2011-2013

◦Project Objective To promote best Curatorial practice To increase the capacity of academic libraries to

reliably preserve ETDs.

◦ Project Partners 8 institutions

ETD Lifecycle Management Project Deliverables: Guideline Documents

◦Nine guidance documents

1. Guidance Documents for the Lifecycle Management of ETDs

2. Guidelines for Implementing ETD Programs – Roles & Responsibilities

3. Guide to Access Levels & Embargoes of ETDs

4. Briefing on Copyright & Fair Use Issues in ETDs

5. Guidelines for Collecting Usage Metrics & Demonstrations of Value for ETD Programs

6. Managing the Lifecycle of ETDs: Curatorial Decisions & Practices

7. Metadata for ETD Lifecycle Management

8. Guide to ETD Program Planning & Cost Estimation

9. Guide to Options for ETD Program

ETD Lifecycle Management Project Deliverables: Tools for various Curation Activities

Virus Checking Format Identification ETD Dropbox to handle

ETD Submission

ETD Lifecycle Management Project Deliverables: Educational Materials

◦Training and Workshop Materials

Workshops at:

ETD

USETDA

TxETDA Conferences

http://educopia.org/publishing

ETD Lifecycle Management

Questions?Daniel.Alemneh@unt.edu