How to Become a Member of NDLTD

1. The NDLTD Organization

Since its inception in 1996, the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) has worked to improve graduate education, increase the availability of student research, empower students and universities, advance digital library technology, and lower the costs of submitting and handling electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs).

In order to better serve its membership, in May 2003 the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations was duly formed as a nonstock corporation for worldwide charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. NDLTD is now headed by a Board of Directors, working with members on various committees to further the aims of the organization.

2. Membership in NDLTD

We cordially invite you to support ETD activities through Membership in this important network!

Key benefits for Members will include:

• Support for harvesting into the Union Catalog
• Eligibility for NDLTD awards
• Eligibility to serve on NDLTD Committees and the Board of Directors
• Eligibility to be aided by a Mentoring Program
• Discounts on exhibits/displays at the Annual Conference
• Access to member address information (when shared)
• Conference registration fee discounts for selected events (see individual conference calls for participation)

3. Cost of Membership

There is a sliding scale for university systems and other types of consortia (in Category I countries), with lower consortial fees for those in Category II or III countries, following the categories in the 2003 United Nations Human Development Report.

Please see the schedule below, and the following list of countries in each category.

CATEGORY I: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China, SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep. of), Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.

CATEGORY II: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Rep. of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Macedonia (TFYR), Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Moldova (Rep. of), Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa (Western), São Tomé and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam.

CATEGORY III: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Dem. Rep. of the), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania (U. Rep. of), Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

4. Why a Membership Fee?

The NDLTD Membership and Finance Committees were asked to develop a sustainable plan for: support of the NDLTD mission, ongoing operations, and additional valuable services to its growing membership.

In 2004 we were pleased to announce an annual awards program. We continue to receive requests for scholarships to the annual conferences, e.g., ETD 2004 in Kentucky, USA (followed by ETD 2005 in Australia and ETD 2006 in Canada andsoforth). More sites (now over 50) are joining the Union Catalog, which has over 700,000 records, in multiple languages. Working with Adobe, we have launched an aggressive campaign to dramatically increase awareness regarding ETDs, with a goal of doubling the NDLTD membership over the next several years. Efforts continue regarding software development and free distribution (to support local and regional digital libraries of ETDs), as well as support of standards that ensure interoperability. NDLTD is visible worldwide for its role in improving access to scholarly works, and represents the interests of its members in this regard - facilitating dialog around the globe.

These efforts require financial support. After careful deliberation by the NDLTD Committees and Board of Directors, a decision was reached to implement a dues structure.

At the June 2006 Board meeting, the NDLTD decided to phase out its affiliate-membership program, which was intended to help the organization transition to a dues-paying membership organization. The NDLTD Board of Directors calls on all affiliate members to become full members by paying the minimal membership fee (see schedule above).

We cordially invite all institutions with an interest in ETDs to join the NDLTD so it can continue to promote and support this important international collaborative effort.

5. Dues Payment

Payment can be made directly to:

Scott Eldredge, Financial Officer
NDLTD
c/o Lee Library Business Office
2062 HBLL
Provo, UT 84602-6800

If there are any questions, please contact the NDLTD Treasury at scott_eldredge@byu.edu.

It may be possible to pay dues in conjunction with registration for the Annual ETD Conference - see the relevant conference website or contact the Treasurer for details.