Getting Content: FAQ: DSpace: MIT Libraries

FAQ — Getting DSpace Content

Access and Printing

Do I need to register to be able to access DSpace files?

DSpace registration is not needed for access to DSpace files. DSpace registration will not provide access to MIT-only content.

Why can't I print a thesis?

Printable PDF files of theses are only available to current MIT faculty, students, and staff with valid MIT web certificates installed. However, non-MIT people can still look at any theses online.

Once you have found the thesis that you are looking for, select the "Preview Open to All" bitstream at the bottom of the page in the gray box. The Preview Open to All PDF file is accessible by anyone, and can be downloaded and read on your computer. You will not be able to print this file, but it does contain all pages of the thesis for on-screen viewing.

If you would like to purchase a printable PDF file or a paper copy, click on the "Not from MIT" link, which will fill in our order form. If you are affiliated with MIT but are unable to print, please fill out the DSpace Help form.

"File is damaged and cannot be repaired" error message.

This is not a bug with DSpace, but a problem with Adobe Acrobat and how it works when trying to open a document within your browser. It tends not to be a problem if you are using IE. However, an easy way to solve the problem is to save the file onto the desktop.

From the record for the document you are looking for, right click on the "View/Open" link.

Select "save link as ..." and place it on your computer.

If I'm not affiliated with MIT, are there any restrictions on what I can access? Why can't I access a certain file?

Many of the items in DSpace are freely available to the public. However, there are several restrictions:

MIT theses cannot be printed by those not affiliated with MIT, although they can be downloaded to be read on your computer. See "Why can't I print a thesis?"

Access to the MIT Press out-of-print books collection is restricted to MIT students, faculty and staff. If you wish to purchase a copy of one of these books, please contact Gita Manaktala at manak@mit.edu.

Other collections may also have restrictions on files, depending on the needs of the department that set up the collection. If you have a question about a particular file, please fill out the DSpace Help form.

I registered in (or subscribed to) DSpace but I still can't access a certain file.

DSpace registration is not required by MIT's DSpace and does not offer you access to any files. Subscribing to a collection in DSpace merely alerts you to new items available in the collection to which you subscribe and also does not offer you access to any files.

See access restrictions above for which files are accessible in DSpace.

If you are having trouble performing any tasks requiring authorization that are not described in that section, please fill out the DSpace Help form.

DSpace Records

How do I fix an error in a thesis record? How do I report an error or missing page in a DSpace document?

Use the DSpace Help form, explaining where the error is.

Items in DSpace

Why isn't a certain thesis in the DSpace thesis collection?

MIT's DSpace does not contain all MIT theses, only a selected group. All new theses since the 2004 academic year are automatically scanned and added to DSpace after cataloging and thesis processing is complete. Theses completed prior to 2004 are scanned on demand, and are only scanned if an individual or an institution has requested a copy of a particular thesis. All of the scanning of paper theses is done on a cost recovery basis, and the first person/institution to request a particular thesis is the one who pays the scanning cost.

It is our goal to scan all of the theses completed at MIT for DSpace; however, more than 100,000 theses have been completed at MIT. The 14,000 theses in DSpace only represent a fraction of MIT's print thesis holdings. Anyone interested in accessing a printable PDF file or a paper copy of a thesis not already in DSpace should make a request through the MIT Publications Order form, or contact Document Services at docs@mit.edu.

Thesis authors receive discounted MIT-only pricing when requesting that their own thesis be scanned. More info is available on the theses pricing pages. Thesis authors who have an electronic copy of their own MIT thesis can add it to DSpace. See Add Your Thesis to MIT's DSpace for more information.

I'm an MIT alum. How can I get my thesis added to DSpace?

If you’re a recent MIT graduate and have access to the file that your paper thesis was printed from, you can convert this file to PDF and send it to the MIT Libraries to add to DSpace. See Add Your Thesis to MIT’s DSpace for more information.
You may also request that the MIT Libraries scan your thesis and add it to DSpace through the MIT Publications Order Form. Scanning of paper theses is completed on a cost recovery basis. The average cost for a 200 page thesis is $19, scanning takes 2-3 weeks. See the thesis pricing pages for more information. Thesis authors receive discounted MIT-only pricing when requesting a copy of their own thesis.

How do I remove my thesis from DSpace?

The placement of theses online in DSpace, which is indexed by Google and other search engines, is part of the publication process of each MIT thesis. All theses completed at MIT may eventually go online in DSpace. The thesis specifications online discuss copyright and MIT's right to distribute the work in electronic or print form.

A temporary hold may be placed on graduate theses at the time of completion of the degree, which can be requested through the Dean of Graduate Students. This is a temporary hold, and the hold must be requested prior to the release of the thesis. We do not have a process in place to remove theses from public view after degrees are granted. Each thesis is part of the legal and scholarly record of work completed at MIT.

The paper and microfiche versions of theses are also available for viewing on appropriate library shelves in the MIT Libraries and the Institute Archives.

I am interested in forming a new collection or subcollection in DSpace.

Use the DSpace Help form to contact us. See also Creating Content and General FAQs.

DSpace Software

I need help loading DSpace software.

For information on using the open source DSpace software, please see the DSpace web site.

There is a bug in MIT's version of DSpace.

Use the DSpace Help form to report any bugs.