Currently EThOS is still in beta version to gain feedback from users and allow stability and performance testing to be monitored. If you have used EThOS and have any comments to make please contact customer-services@bl.uk
Happy Birthday EThOS - 2 years old!
Some key milestones in EThOS's two years
Since its launch in January 2009, EThOS has offered researchers across the world a single point of access, demonstrating the breadth and quality of UK doctoral research.
Below we give 6 month snapshots of EThOS's two year history.
| Theses Available | Registered Users | Theses Downloaded | |
| Jan 2009 | 5,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| July 2009 | 18,000 | 17,500 | 57,000 |
| Jan 2010 | 26,000 | 34,000 | 119,000 |
| July 2010 | 36,000 | 51,000 | 196,000 |
| Jan 2011 | 44,000 | 65,000 | 260,000 |
Consultations over future models - Update
Final details of new model to be released in May 2011
EThOS has a newly-constituted Project Board under the chairmanship of Professor K. Schürer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester. The Board is comprised of representatives from The British Library, RLUK, Sconul, JISC, JISC Collections, DART-Europe, HE and Cranfield.
Following an extensive review, a proposal to implement a new business model for the EThOS service was approved in principle by the EThOS Project Board in January 2011. The revised model will focus on the harvesting of e-theses. Additionally, the British Library will continue to offer a digitisation service and all returns from this supplementary service will be reinvested into the EThOS platform.
The new EThOS Project Board will oversee the launch of the new service and its future development.
The Board will next meet in May in order to finalise and agree plans and a communications strategy with the goal of launching the new EThOS service in September. The May notification of these arrangements is intended to allow time for budgetary planning within HEIs.
VAT Increase
New prices following VAT increase
Following the increase in VAT, all theses digitised and CD/DVD's ordered after the 3rd of January 2011 will incur the new 20% rate of VAT.
The new prices will be as follow:
| Pre-VAT Increase | 2011 Price | |
| Digitisation of theses | £40 | £40.85 |
| Supplying CD/DVD | £15 | £15.32 |
Theses Digitisation Period
Our efficiency measures continue to deliver thesis digitisation times well in advance of our quoted 30 day period.
(Please note this is 30 days from receiving the thesis from the relevant institution, not from when it's requested).
Thesis Export Tool
So far, 28 HEIs have registered to export.
Harvesting Tool
We're currently harvesting 29 institutions' theses, with a further 9 in the testing phase.
Previous Updates
For previous updates, please click here.
Let us know what you think
As always, we are keen to hear your comments. Please email uktheses@bl.uk
