1.
Are all MIT theses collected by the MIT Libraries?
The
MIT Libraries collect all master and doctoral degree theses produced
by MIT students. The paper “archival” copy is preserved
in the Institute Archives, and an electronic version is made available
through DSpace. A duplicate paper copy is also made available to users
through the divisional and branch libraries. Only bachelor theses which
have been selected and submitted by individual MIT departments are collected
by the Libraries.
2.
How many MIT theses are there?
There
are more than 100,000 theses held by the MIT Libraries and Institute
Archives.
3.
Are all MIT theses available in DSpace?
No. MIT's
DSpace contains only about 10,000 theses. They were scanned on demand
as they were requested by MIT users, outside users, or institutions.
Beginning
with the February 2004 degree period, all new theses have been scanned
by Document Services rather than microfilmed. All scanned theses –
whether graduate or undergraduate – will appear in DSpace after
thesis processing is complete.
In the
case of bachelor theses, it should be noted that very few have been
put online to date. Paper copies of theses will be preserved by the
Archives and continue to be the official MIT copies of record.
A small
number of theses have been transferred to the Libraries in electronic
format (Adobe PDF) by thesis authors at the time of their graduation.
Only theses submitted in this electronic format will retain original
color images and active links.
4.
Is there a thesis fee?
Yes. Graduate
students are responsible for paying the fee themselves, whereas departments
assume the cost of archiving their selected undergraduate theses. Thesis
fees offset the direct costs of reformatting and abstracting new theses.
5.
What are thesis holds?
Thesis
holds are temporary limits on access to particular theses, which may
be related to a patent application, government restriction, or a privacy
or security issue. Holds can be authorized only by the Dean for Graduate
Students or the Technology Licensing
Office.
6. How long does it take for theses to be added to DSpace?
The time
frame for the deposit, processing and eventual availability of any new
thesis in DSpace is a minimum of 3 months following conferment of the
degree. Theses placed on hold are not available in any format for a
period ranging from months to years.
A representative
timeline for processing a new thesis could include:
- ~
4 weeks after graduation for departments to submit theses to the Institute
Archives
- ~ 2
weeks in the Institute Archives
- ~
2 weeks for scanning in Document Services
- ~
2 weeks for binding which includes preparation at Preservation Services,
and shipping and return from Acme Bookbinding
- ~
2 weeks for cataloging
7.
What options are available to MIT users who need to access a thesis
before a thesis record appears in Barton or in DSpace?
Current
MIT faculty, students, and staff who are interested in a thesis which
has not yet been cataloged may contact the Institute Archives staff
to determine whether the thesis has been deposited in the Institute
Archives. If it has been deposited, and if it is not on hold, the Archives
staff will then allow the user to view the thesis in the Institute Archives
reading room. If the user needs a paper or electronic copy, they are
referred to Document Services.
If the thesis is available, arrangements can be made between Document
Services and the Institute Archives to rush process a new thesis. In
such a case, the thesis would go into the next group of paper theses
to be scanned (the Institute Archives sends batches of 100 theses to
Document Services every two weeks), and MIT users would be provided
with a free PDF file within two weeks.
When someone requests a paper or electronic copy of an existing MIT
thesis (as opposed to a new one), a digital copy is created and added
to the online DSpace thesis collection shortly afterwards.
Non-MIT users may request any thesis using the MIT
Publications order form (see Document
Services Pricing Information for specific costs).
Any thesis that is visible in
DSpace is available to current members of the MIT community at no cost,
and may be downloaded from DSpace at any time with an MIT certificate,
or from a public computer in the MIT Libraries.
8.
If an MIT student wants to submit an electronic thesis, what procedures
should be followed?
Students can transfer an electronic copy of their thesis, in PDF format,
to Document Services through an FTP system, by writing it to CD-ROM,
or by uploading it to Athena space from which Document Services staff
can download it. See Add
Your Thesis to MIT's DSpace for more information.
PDF versions
of theses are saved on a departmental server in Document Services until
they are cataloged. Document Services staff make a second, locked copy
of the document (the non-MIT version) and verify that signatures are
not included in the PDF file. Once an item has been cataloged, it may
be released for batch loading.
Note:
It can take up to several months for e-theses to appear in DSpace. MIT
theses cannot be released until after graduation. Electronically-submitted
theses may not be made available until 3 months after the degree is
conferred.
At this
time, student thesis submission is not being handled through DSpace.
It is hoped that this will be an option in the future.
9.
Why are some MIT theses available in color, while others are available
only in black-and white?
When paper
theses are scanned by Document Services staff, they are scanned in black-and-white
mode. Submitting a thesis electronically is the only way to ensure that
color content will be viewable as such online.
Original paper versions of MIT theses, including any color content,
are available for viewing in person in the Institute Archives. Since
they are held in offsite storage, users should call ahead to order the
thesis.
last
edited April 26, 2005
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