Perspectives on ETDs (Electronic Theses and Dissertations): Library Issues and Responsibilities

Gail McMillan, M.A., M.L.S.

Associate Professor, University Libraries, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
and
Director, Digital Library and Archives (including Scholarly Communications and Special Collections)

Tuesday, 7 November 2000

8:30-9:00 Coffee and Doughnuts
9:00-10:30 Presentation

OCLC Kilgour Auditorium
6565 Frantz Road
Dublin, OH 43017

Gail McMillan is a widely recognized expert on digital libraries, scholarly communications, and electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). With the support of the U.S. Department of Education, Ms. McMillan was co-founder of the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), an initiative to improve graduate education, increase sharing of knowledge, help universities build their information infrastructure, and extend the value of digital libraries (http://www.ndltd.org/).

Currently, Ms. McMillan is working on a white paper for OCLC Research, which will identify and address key issues involved in the processing and management of ETDs, including processing responsibilities, workflows, access issues, programmed applications, system administration, copyright, outreach and usage, and archiving and preservation.

As director of the digital library and archives at Virginia Tech, Ms. McMillan brings a librarian's perspective to her work with ETDs. She is a frequent author, presenter, and consultant on these issues and is uniquely qualified to help other librarians support the handling of electronic theses and dissertations within their institutions.