RDA Resource Description and Access : a brief overview of the new bibliographic cataloging standard Billy Chi-hing Kwan Assistant Library Director Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library Jan. 10, 2013

What is RDA? New standard for resource description and access designed for the digital world. Built on the foundations established by AACR2. Provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and instructions on resource description and access covering all types of content and media. Successor to AACR2.

Why RDA? Those good old days when … – The majority of library materials were published in print/other analog formats. Now – In addition to all the paper, microfilms or microfiches …

A variety of electronic formats, e.g., CD-ROMs, DVDs, online resources via various platforms

Why RDA? Recent explosion of various digital and multi-media content, e.g., digital images, audio and video files. Antiquated cataloging practices:

New RDA practices No more Latin--Use natural language instead. Strict transcription from the source, and from various parts of the source, i.e., no longer restricted to the title page as the primary source, few abbreviated transcription rules. No more limits of access points.

New RDA practices: More relationships: among works and items, qualifying the relationships between individual/corporate names and works/items. More description about content types, media types and carriers. Align with other metadata standards and current cataloging/metadata trends, e.g., creator instead of author.

FRBR: Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records A conceptual entity-relationship model developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). It is not a data standard, such as AACRII and RDA. Provides a “framework for relating the data that are recorded in bibliographic records to the needs of users of those records" (FRBR Final Report, sec. 2.1) and for assessing their actual relevance. The structure of RDA is based on FRBR.

FRBR: WEMI Work Expression Manifestation Item

FRBR: WEMI * RDA cataloging and description of the various levels of bibliographic information can be found in various parts of an MARC record.

Recognizing RDA records ǂe rda Desc=i in the fixed fields Presence of 336, 337, 338 fields Other signs of RDA cataloging: – Many common cataloging abbreviations spelled out e.g., … ǂb portraits, illustrations … – more relator terms (relationship designators) in name and title headings, e.g., Smith, John, ǂe artist ǂi Sequel: ǂa Harris, Edwin. ǂt John Jasper’s gatehouse.

Finding RDA records in OCLC

Finding RDA records in LC

Overview of an RDA record

A more complete RDA record

WEMI elements in an RDA record

RDA implementation timeline LC will switch to RDA on March 31, Online version of AACR2 will only be available via RDA ToolKit, starting from April 1, PMA Library’s RDA implementation timeline. Next RDA presentation: highlight major changes in individual fields and descriptive areas of an MARC record.

Further Reading LC on FRBR: – – Additional RDA Resources: – Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA: jsc.org/rda.htmlhttp:// jsc.org/rda.html – RDA Toolkit--Background: – LC’s Information and Resources in Preparation for RDA: – Library’s shared drive: \Cataloging\RDA for Seasoned Cataloger – Print Monographs – This presentation is on the Library’s shared drive: \Cataloging\RDA Presentations\