Is a dissertation or thesis considered a “publication”?
A.In general, yes, although it can be important to identify its effective publication date. Traditionally, a dissertation or thesis was considered to be published once it had been catalogued and shelved in a publicly accessible library. Dissertations and theses are now typically submitted and published electronically, rather than on paper. While unanswered questions remain concerning the legal effects of the relatively recent advent of electronic publication, it is reasonable to expect that the “publication date” of an electronic dissertation or thesis should generally be the date that it is first made available to the public online. Q.
