Access to Content

By default, all items deposited in BDEARS are available openly to anyone with access to the World Wide Web. It is possible for depositors to place access restrictions on items (see the Access Restriction Policy), but depositors are encouraged to put as few access restrictions as possible on items.

Items are provided via the World Wide Web in at least the original format deposited. When possible and easily automated, items in proprietary formats (such as Microsoft Word) will be converted to formats that can be opened and read using freely available software. BDEARS staff are not currently reviewing automatic conversions for errors or corruptions.

Some items may also be converted to more preservable formats or may be only available in the original format deposited. See the BDEARS Digital Preservation Support Policy for more specific information about preservation support for items deposited into BDEARS.

If a BDEARS user encounters a problem with a file, notify BDEARS staff at [email protected]. BDEARS staff will try to resolve the problem as described in the Preservation Support Policy.

There may be specific cases when the BDEARS Community (a group responsible for a set of collections in BDEARS) needs more specialized actions taken to ensure the accessibility and reuse potential for deposited items, such as items that represent official records like dissertations and theses. These cases will be determined and documented on a case by case basis.

Where possible, BDEARS strives to provide a web environment that meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). However, because items are deposited by users, BDEARS is not able to control whether all deposited items are in formats that conform to these guidelines.