What About Those Theses and Dissertations?The University Libraries’ Theses Scanning

Project Rebecca Bernthal – May 16, 2014

Background:

•UNL has Institutional Repository/Digital Commons available

•Pre-1922 and 2010 – 2014 Theses already digitized and in DC

•Estimated 18,000 theses titles not electronically available

•Pieces located at all locations, some with more than one copy

•Considered outsourcing project

Title: Theses Scanning Project

Cast of Characters: Stakeholders Major Stakeholders:

•Digital Commons: Paul Royster and Sue Ann Gardner•Technical Services Department •Variety of Other Library Departments/Staff•Authors of Theses not Currently Digitized

Other Stakeholders:

•Various College Departments and Offices at UNL•Various Library Locations: Branches, Archives, Remote Storage

Funding, Props, Scenery, Permission, Actors, and Promotion (Consider: What You Need vs. What You Want)

•Equipment – Epson (J181A) & Zeutschel (OS 12002 C Advanced)

•Copyright Issues•Timeline/Goals•Staffing and Training Issues – “Art of Scanning”•Workflow•Communication with Stakeholders•Metadata & Abstracts – Enhancing Access•Quality of End Product

Staging the Production:

Dress Rehearsal & The Show Opens:• Rave Reviews and Positive Feedback

• Rewrites and Continued Support

• Full House

• Getting Better With Time

Reviews: What Could Go Wrong?

•Changes in Actors

•Zeutschel Equipment

•Other Unplanned Problems/Issues

Behind the Scenes:

• “Art of Scanning” by Paul Royster• “Basic Scanning Manual” by Sue Ann Gardner• Copyright: Compliance for 1923 to present. Need to get author’s permission to allow open access of the thesis. Samples of pages for author’s permission from Texas A&M: https://repository.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/129207

http://scholarlycommunication.library.tamu.edu/retrospective-theses-alt.html

• Advertising – Alumni publications, departments, etc.

Another Opening, Another Show:

• “Competition” With Other Work

• Making Adjustments in Workload and Relying on Others

• Other Projects Under Consideration & Vying for Attention

• Priority With Other Projects Underway

Closing and Cast Party: (2018)

Conclusion

Questions?

Contact Information: Rebecca Bernthal, Love Library

University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 phone: 402-472-4404

e-mail: rbernthal1@unl.edu