Requesting Copies of Domestic and Foreign PhD Dissertations

 

A few months ago, I contacted the library at Yale University, and I requested a PDF copy of a 2024 PhD dissertation from a Yale department. I received a response stating: “At the request of the author or degree granting institution, this graduate work is not available to view or purchase until February 04 2027.” Not available “to view”?!? 

Earlier this week, I reached out to the library at the University of Tokyo, and I requested a PDF copy of a 2020 PhD dissertation from a department in that university. I received a response stating: “Due to copyright law, we are unable to provide PDF copies to anyone. We appreciate your understanding.”

How is this possible? When did this pattern become widespread—as it appears to be? I had thought one of the primary purposes of PhD dissertations was to advance public knowledge.

Yes, one can write the author(s), as I have done. But why should that be necessary? And what if the author is dead or otherwise unreachable or unavailable? Or what if the author simply refuses an otherwise legitimate request? It is almost as if there are elements in universities who seek to generate bad will for their institutions and for academia at large. But why?

Seth

Seth Barrett Tillman, ‘Requesting Copies of Domestic and Foreign PhD Dissertations,’ New Reform Club (Aug. 1, 2025, 6:00 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/08/requesting-copies-of-domestic-and.html>;