Disposal collection dissertations from foreign universities (post 1850)
In September 2024, Leiden University Libraries (UBL) will dispose of a collection of dissertations from foreign universities published after 1850. This allows us to make room for new acquisitions.
In addition to the dissertations from Leiden University, the UBL has an extensive collection of foreign dissertations. The dissertations of famous scientists remain part of the UBL collection and can continue to be requested. The dissertations from before 1850 also remain part of our collection. All other dissertations from foreign universities (post 1850) will be disposed.
From its foundtion until 2004, UBL participated in a dissertation exchange program with various foreign universities. A large part of foreign dissertations was not cataloged upon arrival. As a result, the UBL now owns a collection of 400,000 foreign dissertations from the period after 1850 that is not cataloged and takes up more than 3.2 km of shelf space.
This collection, which is virtually unknown to our users, therefore takes up considerable stack and growing space. The universities where these dissertations were defended at the time have usually cataloged and sometimes digitized the dissertations. These dissertations therefore remain available to researchers in Leiden through these universities.
We did extensive research before making this decision. For example, we asked foreign universities whether they no longer have their own theses, for example due to fire, war or other causes. We have contacted dozens of foreign universities about this. Most have informed us that they still have the theses and have indicated that they do not need to receive our copies.
Finally, UBL made inquiries with other university libraries in the Netherlands. They appear to have disposed of collections of uncatalogued foreign dissertations in the past, partly due to the very limited use of these dissertations.
Considering the results of our research, we have therefore decided to dispose of this extensive collection. This measure also creates the necessary free shelf space to accommodate new acquisitions and special collections.