Internet Archive to Receive 400,000 Dissertations from Leiden University

From https://www.library.universiteitleiden.nl/news/2024/10/he-internet-archive-takes-over-foreign-dissertations-from-ubl

Last month, the UBL announced that it will deselect an extensive collection of foreign dissertations. We are happy to report now that The Internet Archive will be taking over this collection.

The dissertations were originally part of an exchange programme between (mostly European) universities until the year 2004 but were never catalogued on arrival. As Leiden University Libraries has limited space for growth in its stacks, it decided to deselect these dissertations, so that 3.2 km could be freed up for new acquisitions. The universities where these dissertations originally were defended informed UBL that they still have the dissertations and were not interested in receiving back the Leiden copy. The Internet Archive will now take over this collection from the UBL, and will take care of its future preservation and access. The UBL is pleased that The Internet Archive is able to give this collection of foreign dissertations a second life.

10 thoughts on “Internet Archive to Receive 400,000 Dissertations from Leiden University

  1. Nemo

    Amazing! My university stopped keeping copies of theses and dissertations ages ago, asking instead to deposit them in microfiche format, due to the costs involved. Long-term preservation had to take a back seat. Incredible that Leiden University has managed to finance the preservation of all those copies for so long, and even more stunning that the Internet Archive will continue in its place. Let’s hope modern born-digital dissertations will also find a home into the next century.

  2. Lucy

    Please address the hack and be aware the hackers said they will strike again tomorrow. Please get some serious cybersecurity on this immediately.

  3. Mane

    You lost the data of millions in a security breach, and I see no explaination, no comment, no apology. I will never donate to the IA again.

  4. JWallace

    Currentely as of now, Internet Archive is going under a DDOS attack, just in case for those who don’t know at the moment and watch this blogg.

  5. Suka Blyat

    Is it any coincidence that the cybersecurity attack on a website dedicated to free and open information is delivered from the same country that spent the last 10 years spreading and selling disinformation about international politics? The Russkies do it again!

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  7. Info Jejepangan

    It’s great to hear that The Internet Archive is stepping in to preserve this valuable collection of foreign dissertations. With the growing space limitations at Leiden University Libraries, it’s a thoughtful solution to ensure these works remain accessible and are not lost. This partnership allows the dissertations to have a second life, making them available to a broader audience while ensuring their long-term preservation. Kudos to both UBL and The Internet Archive for prioritizing the accessibility of academic resources.

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