ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

The ‘EThOS’ Toolkit

Dr. Susan Copeland

(ETD 2006)

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

EThOS

A UK project to produce an

Electronic Theses Online Service

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

EThOS project workpackages

• Project management

• Central host & search interface

• Harvesting data from institutions

• Retrospective digitisation

• IPR & permission

• Toolkit for institutions

• Business models

• Dissemination and advocacy

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Susan Copeland (RGU)Siddhartha Shakya (RGU)Astrid Scott (Edinburgh)

Work Package 6(Toolkit for institutions)

Led by: The Robert Gordon University

s.copeland@rgu.ac.uk

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Purpose of the toolkit

• To assist institutions to make theses available online

• To offer guidance on the alternative options for participating in EThOS

• To provide advice on the legal, cultural, technical, administrative and resource issues that need to be considered

Toolkit

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Approach

• Generic approach adopted

• Allows flexibility to cover different circumstances– Repository – Participation

• Specific examples are given which can be adopted/adapted

Toolkit

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Structure

A four step process:

• Step1. Culture Change

• Step2. Business Requirements

• Step3. Technical Implementation

• Step4. Training & Development

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Step1. Culture Change

a. What are e-Theses?

b. What is ‘EThOS’?

c. Who benefits from e-Theses?

d. Acquiring content

e. What impact do e-Theses have?

f. Supporting literature

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Step2. Business Requirements

a. Business Case

b. Legal Issues

c. Administrative Issues

d. Participation Options

e. Repository Options

f. Metadata

g. Prioritising Digitisation

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

a. Business Case

– The benefits

– The resources involved

– Creating and sustaining the service

Business case

Step2. Business Requirements

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

b. Legal Issues– IPR– Sample agreements and forms

c. Administrative Issues– Approaching committees – Sample regulations

Step2. Business Requirements

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

d. Participation Options

– Metadata and content

– Metadata only

EThOS

User

Theses metadata onlye-Theses

Microfilm theses

Paper theses

Step2. Business Requirements

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

e. Repository Options

– Use existing institutional (or consortium) repository

– Setup institutional (or consortium) repository

– Use central hub only

UKDoT, the Central Hub

Institutional repository (Option 1/2)

Consortium repository(Option 1/2)

User

Digital theses (Option 3)

Institutional repositories

Direct submission

Harvested by central Hub

Harvested by central Hub

Search and download e-theses

Step2. Business Requirements

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

f. Metadata– UK ETDqDC– Sample metadata

g. Prioritising Digitisation– Selection by date– Selection by subject– School/department– Level of use– Importance on campus

•Title•Author•Supervisor•Institution•Date•Type•…..

Step2. Business Requirements

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Step3.Technical Implementation

a. Use existing institutional (or consortium) repository

– Additional setups if required

b. Setup institutional (or consortium) repository

– Available hardware and software – Best practice

c. Use central hub only– Direct submission to Central Hub

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Step4. Training and Development

a. Training– For Library and I.T. Services staff – For Academic staff / supervisors – For Registry and admin staff – For Students

b. Future Developments– Marketing and ongoing advocacy work – Periodic upgrading of the service

ETD 2006 Quebec, June 7-10, 2006

Thank you