Lesson 22. Dissertations (Theses) Databases
In certain cases we need information on dissertations (theses) for a Candidate or Doctor degree or abstracts of these dissertations. So, where should we search this information?
First of all, it is important that from 2014 full texts of dissertations can be found on the sites of scholarly and educational establishments having their Dissertation Councils. Thus, according to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation № 842 “On awarding scientific degrees” Councils have to upload full-text dissertations freely available.
For example, in Ural Federal University it is Digital Library of Dissertations of UrFU Dissertation Councils created under the Resolution of the RF Government. The author profile provides access to the text of a dissertation or abstract, reviews, list of Dissertation Council members attending defence, and so on. Repository from November 10, 2014.
Naturally, dissertation information is available on the site of Higher Attestation Commission (VAK) under Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the section «Defences Announcement». Higher Attestation Commission oversees awarding of advanced academic degrees. Links to full texts of abstracts partially occur in the descriptions of dissertations from 2011, whereas links to full texts of dissertations can be found after 2014.
In Russia and some post-Soviet states Virtual Reading Rooms of Digital Dissertations Library of Russian State Library (DDL RSL) provide online access to full texts of dissertations and abstracts. In Ekaterinburg there are three virtual reading rooms. It is a paid subscribed resource for libraries. Repository of Digital Dissertations Library of RSL dates from 1968 (partially from 1940s).
Additionally you can use the following open-access resources:
- The Open Digital Dissertation Library of Russian State Library: http://diss.rsl.ru/ or https://search.rsl.ru/#ff=03.02.2018&s=fdatedesc;
- UrFU Digital Scientific Repository (full texts of master’s theses defended in UrFU);
Printed dissertations and abstracts defended in Russia are kept in libraries stocks and are reflected in their electronic catalogues.
There are libraries receiving legal deposits of dissertations (for example, Russian State Library) whereas some libraries built their stocks by means of items given by the authors of their institutions or by alien organizations (for example, UrFU Library).
Figure 1. Query for dissertations in metallurgy in UrFU Library Electronic Catalogue (in Russian)
1. Reading Room of Scientific Technics & Engineering (19 Mira Street, room Б-301);
2. Circulation Desk of Liberal Arts & Humanities (4 Turgeneva Street, room 252);
3. Information Centre of Natural Sciences (48 Kuybysheva Street, room 450).
2. INTERNATIONAL DISSERTATIONS DATABASES
To search for international dissertations, UrFU provides access to ProQuest Digital Dissertations and Theses Global database containing more than 4,5 mln dissertations and theses in different languages defended in the Universities and scientific centres of North and Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The resource is available in UrFU network and remotely through EZproxy system.
There are also resources presenting descriptions of the dissertations in natural sciences and engineering — INSPEC EBSCO publishing, in chemistry — SciFinder Chemical Abstract Service (CAS), etc.
Researchers can focus on the international open-access resources presented on the site of Russian State Library — Dissertations: International Open-Access Collections.