[ILL-L] Dissertations...to catalog or not to catalog

[Robinson, Arthur]

We too try to borrow them, but if we can't and the patron really needs
it (i.e. isn't requesting a dissertation because he doesn't know how to
use the online catalog; that's happened), we'll buy it.  A few years ago
a student needing a dissertation for a paper due in about four days.
One library had it-the University of Hawaii.  I suspected it might not
reach us in Georgia in time, so I checked with our Director, who said to
purchase it on PDF from UMI.  Eventually we bound it and catalogued it,
and have had ILL requests from other libraries for it.  I think we've
done this only two or three times-not enough so it creates a problem, as
it would if we purchased a lot of dissertations (as I gather you do).  I
can understand your library's reluctance to catalog them.  But I'm
always so happy when someone requests a dissertation written at a $20
university (that's how I categorize universities-not "Ivy League" or
"Top Ten," but according to how much they charge for ILL) and it turns
out a smaller, LVIS library also owns it. 

 

Of course, moving has to be taken into consideration.  We're moving to a
new library soon and will have to make tough decisions about some
things-such as our LP collection.  (Anyone here remember LPs?  I knew I
was old when I went to library school at age 41 and a classmate asked me
what carbon paper was.)

 

Arthur Robinson (GLG, a $0 college)

 

From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Klump, Holly
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 11:20 AM
To: Interlibrary Loan Listserv
Subject: [ILL-L] Dissertations...to catalog or not to catalog

 

Do you buy dissertations for students?  

We try to borrow them first, but many times universities do not allow so
we will order for faculty members or graduate students.

 

After you buy the dissertations, do you catalog them or simply give them
to the students?

Since we are a small library with a decent ILL budget, my supervisor
likes us to give the dissertations to the students, not asking for them
back.

We have really just implemented this in the past few months, though the
old coordintor (I am new) had been saving them for years.  

We lack the space for cataloging them, though we could keep them in the
ILL office.  If we did that, our office is generally closed by 3:30 and
not on weekends, so it would be a hassle for reference staff to get them
when we are closed.  Also, it seems that we never order the same
dissertation twice, so the liklihood of them being used again is low.

However, some people feel differently.  I have mixed feelings.  We are
in the process of moving and I'm wondering if we should get rid of our
"secret stash" or hold onto them.  

Knowing what other libraries do would be so helpful!

 

Thanks!

 

Holly Klump

ILL Coordinator

 

Regina Library

Rivier College

603.897.8255

 

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