Thesis Access and Availability FAQ: MIT Theses: Institute Archives & Special Collections: MIT

Specifications for Thesis Preparation


	MIT Thesis Collection



	Thesis Access and Availability FAQ How do I determine the “publication date” for a thesis? How do I determine the date a thesis was cataloged? When is a thesis available to the public? How long does it take for a thesis to be cataloged? How long does it take for theses to be added to DSpace? What are thesis holds? Further questions How do I determine the “publication date” for a thesis? A thesis is generally considered “published” when it has been cataloged and shelved in a publicly accessible library, but other factors could impact the publication date for patent purposes. For example, a thesis submitted electronically might be considered published on the date the electronic version is first made available to the public online, if this occurred prior to the thesis being cataloged. It might also be considered “published” if the student posted a copy on a personal website before submitting the thesis. How do I determine the date a thesis was cataloged? Thesis catalog dates can be found in the Barton (MIT Libraries catalog) record. Find the record in Barton, click “Display full record,” click “MARC tags.” In the MARC record, the field 008 will contain the publication date. The field looks like this: 008 060309s2004 xx a bm 000 0 eng d The first two digits 06 = year (2006), the next two digits 03=month (March), and the last two digits 09= day (9th). The publication date for the above record is March 9, 2006. Note that the stamped date on the title page is not the date the thesis was cataloged. It is the date the thesis was received in the Institute Archives. When is a thesis available to the public? Theses are available for public inspection (MIT and non-MIT) on the day they are received in the Institute Archives, unless there is a hold request on the thesis. Users interested in a thesis not yet in Barton, the MIT Libraries catalog, may contact the Institute Archives staff to determine whether the thesis has been deposited in the Archives. If it has been deposited, and if it is not on hold, the user may view the thesis in the Institute Archives reading room. How long does it take for a thesis to be cataloged? The time frame for the deposit, processing and cataloging of theses is a minimum of 6 months following delivery by the department; currently the average time frame is 9-12 months. Theses placed on hold are not cataloged until a release letter has reached the Institute Archives. Theses can be held for a period ranging from three months to a year. How long does it take for theses to be added to DSpace? The time frame for the deposit, processing and availability of a new thesis in DSpace is a minimum of 6 months following delivery by the department. Theses placed on hold are not available in any format for a period ranging from three months to a year. What are thesis holds? Thesis holds are temporary restrictions on the distribution of theses, which may be related to a patent, government restriction, privacy, confidentiality or security issue. Holds can be authorized only by two MIT offices: the Dean for Graduate Education for government restrictions, privacy, confidentiality and security issues and the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) for patent claims. For further questions, contact the Office of the General Counsel, 617.452.2082.