ADS Newsletter Issue 14

Electronic Access to Archaeology Theses: another invitation to collaborate

Academic theses represent a large and often un-tapped source of new ideas and synthesis on every aspect of archaeological research. Though among the most exacting and innovative forms of academic endeavour, theses are often very difficult to access, and seldom published in their original form. Although theses tend to be well documented, most readers get no closer than a microfilmed transcript which can only be read with dedicated specialist readers in libraries. Ironically, theses are prepared on word processors. So if the digital version of the thesis can be retained, it is relatively simple to provide online access to the full text.

The ADS is pleased to announce its intention to begin archiving PhD theses. It is our hope, in the first instance, to make the PhD abstracts freely available within the Library section of the ADS catalogue with the full text of the PhDs available on request. We will primarily be taking deposits of PhDs undertaken in UK universities in archaeology and related subjects. There will be no charge for the deposition of PhDs, although we would require those depositing data to do so in accordance with our guidelines for depositors. This means that most students who have worked in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect or equivalent packages will be able to submit with relative ease.

This initial invitation, aimed at recently graduated PhD students, doesn't prevent students publishing their work by more conventional means too. The release of data can be timed to coincide with other publications, or held back until a specified date. It also makes it possible for supporting digital data to be supplied alongside the text in native formats, rather than as textual transcripts or appendices. This makes re-analysis and re-evaluation easier.

Have you or your students recently completed a PhD thesis? Would you like the ADS to preserve and distribute copies of your thesis? If you are interested in taking advantage of this invitation to collaborate, contact Catherine Hardman on csh3@york.ac.uk

Electronic Access to Archaeology Theses: another invitation to collaborate

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