Contact: Maridith Geuder
The scholarly works of current and future Mississippi State students completing master's- and doctoral-degrees will have a new look--and sound.
Through an electronic service now available at the university's Mitchell Memorial Library, graduate students' written theses and dissertations may include visual images with sound accompaniment.
MSU is among some 100 libraries converting to the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, a consortium launched in 1997 by Virginia Tech University. Clemson, Kentucky, Louisiana State, North Carolina State, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt are other Southern universities also making the transition.
The electronic documents have the capabilities of color diagrams and images, hypertext links, audio, video, and even virtual reality worlds. The process also provides students with a major format to display their skills in digital technologies and publishing.
"This presentation capability allows students not only to discuss concepts, but to show them," said Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman. "Electronic formats also allow much wider and more immediately available research via the Internet."
David Cole, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the "primary goal is to provide more flexibility in the presentation of research and to simplify the submission process."
"Electronic theses and dissertations are less expensive to prepare, consume virtually no library shelf space and are available to anyone who can browse the Internet," Cole added.
In a pilot project, MSU's College of Engineering is requiring its students to submit theses and dissertations electronically. The land-grant institution's other schools and colleges are expected to implement similar requirements.
"This service expands the capabilities for graduate education at Mississippi State and contributes to a university goal of becoming a member of the Association of Research Libraries," Dean Coleman said.
For more information, visit library.msstate.edu/etd.