The current literature of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) has frequently discussed issues regarding ETD collaborations, discovery, metadata, system improvement, and long-term preservation strategies. However, rare literature discussed music-related ETDs; no found literature provided a solution to address the concerns of multimedia publishing in music-related ETDs. Main challenges associated with music ETDs are integration of a variety of music format and software, as well as the appropriate use of copyrighted materials of music. One of the common ways to publish music-related ETDs merely include multimedia supplements in ways of attaching original audio files, allowing free downloads of the copyrighted performing works.
Realizing the current concerns and unresolved issues that are still existing in music-related ETDs, TTU Libraries has developed a system called Streaming Audio and Video Experience (SAVE) that includes an authenticated streaming multimedia player, a responsive-design user interface, and a web-based submission and management system. The TTU Libraries is using SAVE, integrated with DSpace-based Institutional Repository, to publish music-related electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) for the College of Visual & Performing Arts.
The integrated system – including both the technology solution SAVE and the publishing model – overcomes physical and technological limits while expanding access to music-related ETDs and other multimedia collections to patrons from any computer with an Internet connection. Through the SAVE system, distance education students have the same access to multimedia collections as local students do. Also, these multimedia collections can be made available for use in networked classroom and course management systems across campus. Professors are able to use these collections in their lessons without having to check out the physical copies from the library. By offering this online accessible system, physical multimedia files avoid substantial amount of future damage caused by heavy use and frequent check-outs.
The development and implementation of SAVE system fill the blank in the current literature of the music-related ETDs and also ETDs in general, as well as offer a solution to resolve the essential conflicts between open access ETDs and copyrighted performing works. The TTU Library wants to propose it as a solution to handle other multimedia collections on the TTU campus and to release it as open source software for other institutions with similar needs. In addition, TTU Libraries plans to release the SAVE technology as open source software to benefit the universities that have similar needs.
