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ABSTRACT
In 1997 Virginia Tech became the first institution to require that theses and dissertations be submitted as electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Paper format theses and dissertations are now accepted only in very unusual circumstances. This paper discusses the great potential that ETDs have for providing immediate, free, and global access to theses and dissertations. It also examines the access restrictions that have been placed on many Virginia Tech ETDs, how these restrictions have thwarted attempts to verify the existence of ETDs, and why many of these restrictions are no longer necessary in today's publishing climate. The current Virginia Tech policies are examined and improvements on these are suggested.
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