Digital Dissertations Midwinter Discussion

[Patricia A. Kreitz]

Exploring Digital Dissertations:  Two Initiatives
Sat.  Jan. 10, 2-4 pm.  New Orleans Convention Center, Rm 82.
  The ACRL Science and Technology Section's General Discussion 
Group's Midwinter discussion will explore recent developments 
in electronic access to full-text dissertations. Jeff Moyer, 
from University Microfilms International, and Gail McMillan, 
from Virginia Tech, will describe digital dissertation projects
currently underway at their institutions.  Questions we will 
explore during the discussion will include: 
--what are some of the challenges involved in providing electronic
access to theses, particularly to multi-media and multi-format 
dissertations?
--are authors' intellectual rights protected adequately?
--how might such programs to 'publish' theses electronically affect
collection development decisions and budgets?
--might such wider access actually improve scholarship?
Please come and help us explore these and other questions.
Submitted by: Pat Kreitz and Jill Newby, General Discussion Section Co-Chairs