By default, EPrints is set up for archiving many different types of research output - articles, conference papers, technical reports, theses etc. However, some institutions prefer to separate theses from other research output, and it's straightforward to configure EPrints as a theses-only repository.
Follow these steps to create a theses repository:
1. Make Thesis Default Deposit Type
In the archive configuration file, configure EPrints to skip the 'choose deposit type' page when users deposit new items, and set the default deposit type to 'thesis' in the metadata configuration file.
As with all deposits in EPrints, users have ongoing control over access to their work, and can choose to make it public (open to all), restricted (accessible only to registered users), or private. For example, a user might initially restrict access to certain chapters pending patent applications, making them public once the patents have been granted.
2. Configure Thesis Metadata (Optional)
EPrints is already set up to capture the following metadata for theses:
- Title
- Type (PhD, Masters, Other)
- Author
- Date Issued
- Official URL
- Institution
- Department
- Number of pages
- Publication Status (Published, In Press, Submitted, Unpublished)
- Abstract
- References
- Keywords
- Subjects (based on Library of Congress subject tree)
In the case of a theses-specific repository, you might also choose to capture the licensing terms of the work, the names of supervisors, examiners, sponsors and/or committee members, and the defence/viva date (examples taken from the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations).
3. Configure Phrases for Additional Metadata (Optional)
EPrints needs to know how to display the names of any newly defined metadata fields in each language supported by the archive. Specify appropriate translations in the language specific configuration files. Also add a description and examples for each metadata field to assist your users when they deposit their thesis - EPrints will display these alongside each input box on the metadata entry pages.
4. Configure Thesis Citation (Optional)
If you have added extra metadata fields to the default set, you may want to configure the citation configuration filesdefault thesis citation style to include some or all of these changes.
5. Configure OAI
Define how EPrints should convert any new metadata fields to the OAI Dublin Core format in the OAI configuration file.