Cooperative purchase and use: a study of the ProQuest full text database of dissertations and theses (PQDT)

Purpose – To purpose of this study is to describe and to demonstrate the value of a consortium purchase of the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses full-text database (PQDT) in China. Design/methodology/approach – The authors provide a first-person account based on their professional positions at the China Academic Library & Information System Administrative Center. Findings – That the PQDT database has steadily increased the use of theses in China with more institutions subscribing every year. The PQDT full-text database has become one of the most cost effective databases cooperatively purchased in China. Originality/value – One of the few in-depth studies of the use of the PQDT database.