SOURCES OF ACCESS TO THESES

Abstract

The growth in the output of theses has led to calls both for improved control and availability and for reform of a system that is out of control. The growth in output does not seem to be matched by growth in use. While national bibliographic control of theses has long been practiced in some countries in many it has yet to be achieved. Availability is a more serious problem. Theses are no longer produced in multiple copies in many countries and exchange activity is declining. There is a trend towards centralized microfilming of theses for bibliographic control, loan and sale. Only a limited number of theses are subsequently published by conventional methods. The centralization of provision has much to commend it, but improvements achieved may be undermined by sponsored research and reserved publication rights.