[Web4lib] Research on WHY U.S. institutions retrospectively digitize theses and dissertations

[Gail Clement]

[Cross-posted to Diglib, ETD-L and Web4Lib with apologies for duplication]

Hello Colleagues,

Has your U.S. university or college begun to plan or implement the retrospective digitization of older (non-ETD) theses or dissertations?  If so, you are enthusiastically invited to assist in a research study on the WHY of retrospective digitization.  A brief survey on the reasons, perceived benefits and unexpected challenges of retrospective digitization is now underway.  It is expected that at least the preliminary results of this survey will be available to share at our national/international ETD conferences in the near future.

At present, the survey is directed at ETD professionals in the United States in order to facilitate correlation of data with institution types based on the Carnegie Classification system. Participants from higher education institutions in other countries are welcome to participate in the study, but their survey data may not be included in all analyses or reports.

If you are willing to participate in this 10-question survey, please click on the link below or paste it into your web browser.  Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and any reports from the research will not identify institutions or individuals.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/retrodig


You are welcome to complete this survey between now and March 31, 2011.  Also feel free to forward this message to another colleague at your institution who may have relevant insights to contribute to this research.

Your insights and feedback mean a great deal, and I want to thank you in advance for your consideration.

Most appreciatively,

Gail


Gail P. Clement
Outreach Librarian and Associate Professor
Digital Services & Scholarly Communication
University Libraries
Texas A&M University
gclement at tamu.edu

5000 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-5000 | 
Tel. 979.862.1635 | Fax. 979.845.6238  
http://library.tamu.edu