Start Date
3-13-2024 4:30 PM
End Date
3-13-2024 5:00 PM
Keywords
indexing, cataloging, discoverability, print thesis, digital thesis
Description of Proposal
As a Research and Instruction Librarian, one of the most frequent questions I'm asked is how to find past theses on a particular topic or theme. There is an active thesis culture at RISD that goes beyond writing and binding a text. An exhibition is held in the graduate gallery to celebrate a curated selection of theses at the beginning of the academic year. (See Book of Thesis Books) Theses can range in format from an artist book to a loose-leaf portfolio. Many emphasize the visual and are a bridge to the student’s studio work. They may include unusual or fragile materials or unique bindings that require protective enclosures and special storage.
Rhode Island School of Design is a private art school with a graduate population of about 475 students. All 17 Master’s programs require the completion of a written thesis component to graduate. Graduate students produce theses that explore the book as a physical form and exemplify a wide range of writing styles. Traditionally theses have been printed, bound, and one copy is turned into the library for cataloging and storage. Each year a cycle of cataloging, uploading and indexing theses takes place. Starting in 2016, in addition to the physical thesis, a pdf version of the thesis has been accepted and uploaded into RISD’s institutional repository, Digital Commons. During COVID-19 all graduate theses moved to pdf submission.
The Index to Graduate Theses was created at the suggestion of an Interior Architecture faculty who wanted a way for students to explore and discover past graduate work in their department and beyond. Faculty use past theses as a teaching tool for current graduate students. They promote the scholarship of recent graduates within their department by citing their work and encouraging current students to seek out particular theses.They refer students to exemplary theses as models and inspiration. Bibliographies from theses are used to identify sources and precedents.
The Index makes finding similar theses and exploring thesis topics across disciplines an easy and generative task. The index is customized to the unique requirements of each department or discipline. For example, the three architectural disciplines include an index by Place Name/Site and Building Typology. Graphic Design theses include an index to Interviews which are an integral component of their department’s thesis process.
I will discuss the process of how the theses are cataloged and why the Index was created. I’ll demonstrate how it’s used, discuss FAQs we receive about finding theses which influence how I index, and show examples of unique and creative thesis forms.
Included in
Art Education Commons, Ceramic Arts Commons, Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Furniture Design Commons, Graphic Design Commons, Higher Education Commons, Industrial and Product Design Commons, Interdisciplinary Arts and Media Commons, Interior Architecture Commons, Landscape Architecture Commons, Library and Information Science Commons, Metal and Jewelry Arts Commons, Painting Commons, Photography Commons, Printmaking Commons, Sculpture Commons
Creating an Index to Graduate Theses to Support their Discoverability
As a Research and Instruction Librarian, one of the most frequent questions I'm asked is how to find past theses on a particular topic or theme. There is an active thesis culture at RISD that goes beyond writing and binding a text. An exhibition is held in the graduate gallery to celebrate a curated selection of theses at the beginning of the academic year. (See Book of Thesis Books) Theses can range in format from an artist book to a loose-leaf portfolio. Many emphasize the visual and are a bridge to the student’s studio work. They may include unusual or fragile materials or unique bindings that require protective enclosures and special storage.
Rhode Island School of Design is a private art school with a graduate population of about 475 students. All 17 Master’s programs require the completion of a written thesis component to graduate. Graduate students produce theses that explore the book as a physical form and exemplify a wide range of writing styles. Traditionally theses have been printed, bound, and one copy is turned into the library for cataloging and storage. Each year a cycle of cataloging, uploading and indexing theses takes place. Starting in 2016, in addition to the physical thesis, a pdf version of the thesis has been accepted and uploaded into RISD’s institutional repository, Digital Commons. During COVID-19 all graduate theses moved to pdf submission.
The Index to Graduate Theses was created at the suggestion of an Interior Architecture faculty who wanted a way for students to explore and discover past graduate work in their department and beyond. Faculty use past theses as a teaching tool for current graduate students. They promote the scholarship of recent graduates within their department by citing their work and encouraging current students to seek out particular theses.They refer students to exemplary theses as models and inspiration. Bibliographies from theses are used to identify sources and precedents.
The Index makes finding similar theses and exploring thesis topics across disciplines an easy and generative task. The index is customized to the unique requirements of each department or discipline. For example, the three architectural disciplines include an index by Place Name/Site and Building Typology. Graphic Design theses include an index to Interviews which are an integral component of their department’s thesis process.
I will discuss the process of how the theses are cataloged and why the Index was created. I’ll demonstrate how it’s used, discuss FAQs we receive about finding theses which influence how I index, and show examples of unique and creative thesis forms.
What takeaways will attendees learn from your session?
Attendees will see options for handling graduate theses, learn the value of indexing theses, learn about options for gathering statistics for thesis usage, and the challenges and rewards of maintaining a hybrid print/pdf graduate thesis collection.
Index to Graduate Theses
The Book of Thesis Books