This discussion is now raising many points, and one wonders if the time
has come for some group (SCONUL, perhaps,the Library Association, or
Natfhe/AUT) to attempt to establish what is a professional code of
conduct on the matter. However, there has recently been a discussion on
this list about whether UG dissertations should be retained in the
library at all. Several years ago, when I was module leader for the HNC
Civils Project, an excellent piece of work was submitted which we all
agreed should receive a distinction. About two years later, we were told
(but we never attempted to discover the truth) that the work had been
copied from someone's Master's dissertation. There was no way in which we
could have traced this at the time - had we even thought about doing so.
We trusted the student.
The initial impetus to the discussion was about dissertations, but it
happens with any literature, as has been pointed out. At one university
the students in one department sign a statement for dissertations to the
effect that the work is original and has not been submitted before. But
even that can be interpreted to mean "the work as a whole" and big chunks
have been lifted without acknowldgement.
At Loughborough University, we were NOT allowed to choose a dissertation
topic which had been done in the last five years; we had to look and see
that this was the case. I am quite sure that the staff would check too.
But in order to enforce this, all the dissertations have to be in one
place so ultimately there is a conflict between the burden of cataloguing
for librarians and a service to others in the University in the provision
of adequate and consistent information.
Perhaps a group of us who feel strongly might liaise by email and attempt
to formulate a statement for discussion by list members, and the relevant
bodies? Let me know if you're interested.
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