Basic RDA
RDA: the Basics
OhioNet
Maga El-Sherbini/Ohio State University
June 10, 2009
RDA (Resource Description & Access)
- A new standard for description & cataloging/ replaces AACR2
- Content standard, not a display standard
- “RDA is a set of guidelines that indicates how to describe a resource, focusing on the pieces of information (or attributes) that users most likely need to know.”
- “RDA facilitates the description of relationships between related resources and between resources and persons or bodies that contributed to creation of that resource”. [Oliver, 2007, Changing to RDA]
- Web based tool/ online, subscription only/ published by ALA Advisory Council
- Publisher provides basic data/ need a subscription for all the examples (good stuff)
- Similar to Catalogers’ Desktop
- Haven’t figured out a subscription price yet
- RDA is intended to work for a larger community beyond librarians (e.g. publishers)
- No rule interpretations (but RDA manual will provide links to old rules?)
- i.e., data simplification like Dublin Core is to MARC
Based on FRBR model (user-relationships
RDA objectives: responsiveness to user needs
- Find
- Identify
- Select
- Obtain
“Responsiveness to user needs very different from AACR2; with RDA does not matter what you select, with AACR2 need index (author, etc.)”
Why we need a new standard: Electronic resources, etc.
Time line:
- November 2009 – January 2010
- 3 month testing period, 3 month assessment & training
- “Testing” is being done for funding purposes
New terminology:
AACR2 comparison RDA- AACR2 Heading is RDA Access Point
- AACR2 Authority control is RDA Access Point control
- AACR2 Authorized heading is RDA Preferred Access Point
- AACR2 Uniform title is RDA Preferred Title
- AACR2 Main entry is RDA Primary Access Point
- AACR2 Added entry is RDA Secondary Access Point
What needs to happen to implement RDA:
- Bibliographic standards have to be redefined: OCLC will do
- MARC: needs to be edited (not extensive)
- OCLC needs to reconfigure their database [ch-already frbized cat?]
- ILS: Need to reconfigure our OPACS [Mike!]
Open source?
- Learn to use online tools (e.g..Publishers Desktop)
- Review FRBR, FRAR concepts
- We can make RDA records even if we are not participating in test
RDA & other standards:ISBD:
- Will not be structured by the 8 ISBD areas of description
- Will not use the ISBD punctuation
- Guidelines for recording data element will be independent of the guidelines for data display
Impact of RDA on OPAC displays:
- All vendors will have to tweak their systems [Mike!]
- Need to have display or regardless of changes will just display like old OPAC
- Split catalog
RDA structure:
Each element will have its own MARC field (e.g., now two different types of info in same field, 020 has ISBN & price)
Demo of RDA manual online
A good deal of time and many slides devoted to demonstration of RDA online
[question about chapters in RDA manual….]
- Statement of responsibility: no limit of number of person, bodies, etc. [RDA: allows us to name, all have added entry w/tracing]
- Place of publication, distribution, etc. [RDA: all places are recorded]
- Replacement of GMD: physical description elements: new MARC fields 336, 337, & 338
- Mike note!!! Systems request: we need 338 to display]
- Uniform titles:
- See slide 62 & 63 [RDA: preferred title= based on the title of the manifestation first received; similar to place of publication]
- So in RDA need to add 730 either locally or better yet in OCLC
- Refer to RDA Joint Steering Committee documentation on [Resource Description and Access]
- Read/review/web tutorials FRBR, RDA
- Review online tools
- Choose a “best webinar” to watch together/discuss?
- Make some test records?
- Mike: III contact about RDA
- Watch for upcoming RDA/FRBR workshops