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Abstract

The EThOS (ElectronicTheses Online Service) project is building on previous e-thesis initiatives, and co-ordinating the work of some of the key players in the UK to develop a service for finding, accessing and archiving digital copies of doctoral theses produced in UK higher education institutions.

Key issues for the project are the development of a sound financial basis for a successful service, the provision of advice needed by authors and university staff on handling intellectual property rights, and the protection of legitimate needs for confidentiality. EThOS will also establish workable and standards- based procedures for populating e-thesis repositories with current and retrospectively acquired digital versions of theses and associated metadata. These developments must also fit with universities’ own internal admini- strative arrangements and regulations.

The project aims to deliver an e-thesis infrastructure that is both technically and financially sustainable, together with a full supporting toolkit of guidance, standards and procedures.