University Library News

Many graduate students have to complete a thesis or dissertation to obtain their degree. Now they also have an opportunity to earn a cash reward and further recognition for their hard work!

At the Georgia State University Library, completed Electronic Theses & Dissertations (ETDs) are managed in a database, indexed by Google and Google Scholar. This database ensures greater access and visibility to our students’ scholarly output. Studies show that ETDs are accessed much more than their paper counterparts, and stand a greater chance of citation and use. ETDs also allow students the opportunity to better convey their message through multimedia, surpassing the limitations of print-only works.

Now there is one more advantage to an ETD over a print work. The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) consortium has recently announced its 2010 ETD Award program. Categories include:

• Innovative ETD Award: Recognizing student efforts to transform the genre of the print dissertation through the use of innovative software to create multimedia ETDs.
• Innovative Learning through ETDS Award: For a student whose professional life has been enhanced by the ETD process.
• ETD Leadership Award: Recognizing members of the university community whose leadership and vision has helped raise awareness of the benefits of ETDs and whose efforts have improved graduate education and research through the use of ETDs.

The awards will be presented at the ETD 2010 Symposium, to be held June 16 – 19, 2010 at the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas, USA. The deadline for nominations is February 15, 2010. Nomination and award details are available on the NDLTD’s site.

If you’re a graduate student (or a faculty member with an ETD online), in what ways have you found the ETD database has benefited your work?