1. RDA: Resource Description and Access A New Cataloging Standard for a Digital Future Jennifer Bowen OLAC 2006 Conference October 27, 2006 Jbowen@library.rochester.edu

2. 2 My topics today Why a new standard? RDA Goals RDA Content Issues in developing RDA Preparing for RDA

3. 3 Why a new standard? Simplify rules Encourage use as a content standard for metadata schema Encourage international applicability Provide more consistency Address current problems Principle-based Build on cataloger’s judgment Encourage application of FRBR/FRAD

4. 4 Why not just keep revising AACR2? AACR2 1978 1988 1998 2002

5. 1978…When this car and AACR2 were new…

6. 6 A new cataloging environment Wide range of information carriers: wider depth and complexity of content Metadata created by a wider range of personnel Many new metadata formats

7. 7 International developments IFLA’s Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) FRAD for authority data Updating the Paris Principles (IME ICC) IFLA Meeting of Experts on an International Cataloguing Code

8. 8 Standards and more standards… Communication Standards MARC UNIMARC MARC 21 MODS/MADS MARCXML XML DTDs Next generation? Metadata Standards Dublin Core MPEG 7 VRA EAD ISBD (also a content/display standard)

9. RDA Goals…

10. 10 RDA will be… A new standard for resource description and access Designed for the digital environment Developed as a web-based product Description and access of all digital resources (and analog) Resulting records usable in the digital environment (Internet, Web OPACs, etc.)

11. 11 RDA will be… Multinational content standard providing bibliographic description and access for a variety of media and formats collected by libraries today Developed for use in English language environment; it can also be used in other language communities Independent of the format (e.g., MARC 21) used to communicate information

12. 12 RDA will… Support FRBR user tasks Find, identify, select, obtain Enable users of library catalogs, etc. to find and use resources appropriate to their information needs

13. 13 Who develops and supports RDA?

14. 14 JSC, Editor, Project Manager, Secretary

15. RDA Content…

16. 16 RDA structure: A work in progress! AACR2 RDA Part I: Description Part II: Access Part I: Description Part II: Relationships Part III: Access Point Control Part A - Description Part B

17. 17 Part A Chapters 0-5 0. Introduction 1. General guidelines for resource description 2. Identification of the resource 3. Carrier description - FRBR “Select” 4. Content description - FRBR “Select” 5. Acquisition and access information - FRBR “Obtain”

18. 18 Part A Ch. 6-7 “Relationships” Chapter 7: Relationships between FRBR Group 1 entities Works Expressions Manifestations Items Chapter 6: Relationships between FRBR Group 1 and Group 2 entities Persons Corporate bodies Families FRBR user task “Find” Choice of access points Part B

19. 19 Part B Access Point Control Choice of access points General guidelines for access point control Access points (preferred forms and variants) for: Persons, Families, Corporate bodies, Places Works, Expressions, etc. Other information used in access point control (entity identifiers, sources, etc.)

20. 20 New Terminology AACR2 terms Heading Authorized heading Uniform title Main Entry Added Entry RDA terms Access point Preferred access point Preferred title Primary Access point Secondary Access point

21. 21 RDA Draft Reviews (Tentative!) Chapter 3: Carrier Chapters 6 and 7 (order reversed!) Ch. 6: Persons, families, corporate bodies associated with a resource Ch. 7: Related Resources Part B: Access Point Control Complete Draft of RDA August 2008: RDA “roll out” at IFLA in Quebec City

22. Some Big Issues

23. 23 Continuity vs. change “Why didn’t you just throw out AACR2 and start over?” Keep the best of what we have Compatibility with existing records is essential!

24. 24 Content vs. display RDA will be a content standard not a display standard RDA will contain new data elements, redefined elements New elements to replace the GMD Clarify definition of “notes” Retain relationships between elements RDA records can still be displayed in an ISBD display if desired

25. 25 Transcription How important is data transcription to resource identification? Rare books, etc. – very important! Metadata communities – not! “Take what you see” Correction of inaccuracies Facilitating automated data capture

26. 26 Content issues Terms for Content and Carrier RDA/ONIX framework for resource categorization JSC GMD/SMD Working Group Mandatory (“Required”) Elements Mapping Data Elements RDA/MARC 21 Dublin Core

27. 27 Ongoing work Mode of Issuance Internationalization Persistent Identifiers and URLs Appendices Access Points for Families Examples Glossary

28. Preparing for RDA…

29. 29 Coding RDA records in MARC 21 – and DC? Most RDA data elements can be incorporated into MARC 21 A few changes: New data elements to replace GMDs Possibly some other modifications necessary to MARC 21 RDA and DC: mappings, further discussions

30. 30 Considering ISBD punctuation RDA will establish a clear line of separation between the recording of data and the presentation of data ISBD punctuation not required in RDA, but instead is an option. Presentation information (e.g. ISBD punctuation) will appear in an appendix of RDA

31. 31 Retrospective catalog maintenance? No - Significant changes to existing records will not be required Need for retrospective adjustments when integrating RDA and AACR2 records will be minimal

32. 32 Making decisions about RDA RDA will offer many alternatives, options Only a few required data elements Who decides how to apply RDA? National libraries Other governing bodies: OCLC, PCC

33. 33 Training for RDA Catalogers will need some training in RDA Groups that provide training are beginning to make plans Online product will assist with learning

34. 34 RDA Online Prototype View/listen to a 3-minute demo. of RDA Online Complete a brief survey – we want your feedback! www.rdaonline.org

35. 35 Commenting on RDA drafts RDA drafts available at: www.collectionscanada.ca/jsc/rda.html Informal discussion: subscribe to RDA-L (link on page above) Formal comments: within the U.S., use web form via ALCTS website (www.ala.org/ALCTS)www.ala.org/ALCTS