Chapter 4 Cataloging and Treatment of ETDs

SUMMARY The electronic thesis/dissertation (ETD), a technological product of the last two decades, streamlines the student submission and approval process, greatly alters cataloging practices, and renders this type of scholarly research much more widely and readily available than the traditional print thesis/dissertation (TD). The ETD possibly comprises and even more significant segment of academic literature than did its print counterpart. Thus, libraries seek to enhance access to the ETD and its current research results through quality cataloging. This chapter presents information on literature and summarizes results of several surveys conducted to study aspects of treating and cataloging ETDs. The literature and survey results present current cataloging practices regarding access points such as classification and subject headings, additional MARC fields to describe the electronic nature of the ETD, and use of student-submitted keywords. The authors also present ways in which catalogers can learn more about ETDs such as use of listservs and attendance at ETD-related conferences.