Enhancing Access to Theses in the Arab-speaking World: University of Jordan Initiatives
This paper explores initiatives at the University of Jordan, focusing on digitization projects and the process of theses deposit using RAD. It discusses the importance of effective management policies for deposit, management, and access, highlighting potential improvements. Additionally, it touches upon global ETD initiatives and the University of Jordan's experience with digitization projects.
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Ensuring access to theses in the Arab speaking world University of Jordan initiatives Dina Tbaishat Library and Information Science Department University of Jordan
Aims This paper starts by looking at some Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) initiatives worldwide It then examines some of the digitization projects at the library of the University of Jordan The paper also examines the process (workflow) of theses deposit using RAD, at university of Jordan library, which acts as the deposit centre for theses from the Arab world universities By illustrating the workflows, it is learnt that an effective management policy for deposit, management and access is required, highlighting possible improvements
Background 2003 Canada The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL): promoting the use of institutional repositories in Canada (Khaparde and Ambedkar, 2014). 2005 India The Indian National Theses Database (INTED): mandatory online submission of metadata sets of a PhD thesis (Khaparde and Ambedkar, 2014). 2005 UK EThOS(Electronic Theses Online Services) project, co-supported by the British Library and the Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL). As part of the Digital Repositories programme (JISC) 2009 UK The White Rose Consortium: E-theses Online to provide doctoral theses awarded by the White Rose universities (Sheffield, York and Leeds) (White Rose University Consortium, 2009). 2011 UK ASLIB (Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureau): Providing Index to Theses, those accepted for higher degrees by the universities of Great Britain and Ireland (Index to Theses, 2011).
University of Jordan experience Digitization Many digitization projects were initiated at University of Jordan library, however, not all of them were implemented Successfully completed project: digitizing Arabic and foreign bounded newspapers collections The project started in 2009 and ended successfully in 2012 Implemented by an outsourcing company -within the library premises The material was archived digitally, 5.5 million pages
Another suggested digitization project is converting what's on microfilms into digitized material Mainly includes newspapers from 1972 onwards, and also manuscripts and other documents that go back from 1870 to 1950 Under negotiation with one governmental institution in Jordan, for fund If succeeds, the library plans to reach an agreement that will result in obtaining the digitization devices once the project ends; to continue digitize other material in-house Other material that the library wishes to digitize include: old print books, old periodicals and special collections.. Way to go !
Electronic Theses repository University of Jordan library has been the Theses Deposit Centre since 1986, from Arab World universities The theses the library embraces includes those submitted by local students, and by member universities in the Association of Arab Universities, also referred to as Union of Arab Universities Union of Arab Universities is an organisation aimed at supporting and connecting universities in the Arab World and enhancing collaboration among them. The association is based in Amman-Jordan
To understand how University of Jordan library has been dealing with the process of theses deposit, a graphical tool called Role Activity Diagram (RAD) is used RAD is part of the Riva method proposed by Ould(2005), created to illustrate processes, their activities and the roles undertaking those activities The following figures represent the process of handling theses at University of Jordan library Figure 1 deals with University of Jordan students submitting their theses (print and on CD) Figure 2 deals with theses submitted by the Arab World universities (mainly CDs by post)
Launching theses deposit system University of Jordan library launched a system for these deposit in 2013 However, due to some deficiency in the system, Arab World university libraries continued sending their theses on CDs by post In 2017, the system was updated and therefore improved, and the libraries were encouraged again to submit their theses online
Unfortunately, electronic submissions via this system was still very weak, up until now According to the computing department at University of Jordan library, only one university in Lebanon actually uploads their theses online through the system, along with all public and private universities in Jordan
Access Users can access print theses only from the reading hall but they cannot borrow them The online theses repository launched in 2017 provides full text for theses content online All academic staff, students and researchers can access theses from any workstation within the university campus Only registered members of staff have access to theses databases (read only) outside the network All members of the Union of Arab Universities can access the repository as read only, except for their theses which can be downloaded
Preservation University of Jordan library follows some procedures in attempt to preserve and maintain their digital collections, they refer to it as "post digital archiving development , this includes: 1. Continuous auditing and monitoring of the work done and taking action if something goes wrong 2. Various enhancement on searching and browsing facilities 3. Providing back-up copies of the digitized material; two DVDs copies; one saved in the archives department in the library, and another with the computer center
Results The total number of theses (in all formats print and archived electronically) reached 84,043 titles in 2018 The computing department at the library started archiving old print theses few years ago but haven t yet finished. Bounded theses are cut, digitized, then catalogued and classified. Around 77,885 titles were archived electronically Since 2003, students at university of Jordan are mandated to deposit an electronic copy of their theses along with the print copy
Other universities in the Arab World still send their theses on CDs, by post, although an electronic system for theses deposit was launched properly in 2017. Only one University library in Lebanon, along with all public and private universities in Jordan upload their theses directly via the system Total number of employees dealing with theses at the university of Jordan library is seven. Two receive theses, two are responsible for in classification, and three works in the computing department. The political situation in the middle east played a negative role in Arab World university libraries participation
Sales 10641016 1938 2208 13936 26996 Jordan Syria Palestine Egypt Iraq Algeria
Recommendations It is commendable that thesis deposit has been going on at university of Jordan since 2003, however, it is highly recommended that the library takes strict action regarding how theses are deposited, managed and accessed. Inspired by the UK experience of EThOS project, which has helped to raise the visibility of UK research since it has been providing a service to the research community to access UK theses The same can be achieved for the Arab World University libraries through the online theses repository, by offering a single source of access where researchers can access most theses produced by the Arab World higher education, hence, supporting the movement towards e-theses
The second recommendation is providing a well-written preservation policy that ensures persistent archive management. One of the challenges suggested by IFLA (2002) is that the concept of long-term access is not supported by the IT industry; this implies that continuous technical support is needed, along with a frequent updated preservation policy. University of Jordan library has some sort of a similar policy called post archive development. However, more attention to a detailed well-written preservation policy should be given
