Resource Description and Access (RDA): a new standard for the digital world

Ann Huthwaite

Library Resource Services Manager, QUT

RDA: history and background RDA is evolving from AACR AACR a merger of the British and American

cataloguing codes AACR2 first published in 1978 (revisions issued in

1988, 1998, and 2002) Based on “Paris Principles” (1961) Incorporated ISBD (International Standard

Bibliographic Description) Currently packaged in MARC format

RDA: governance Three groups responsible for the development

and management of AACR: Committee of Principals AACR co-publishers JSC (Joint Steering Committee for Revision of

AACR) Countries represented on JSC: Australia,

Canada, US, and the UK

JSC members, JSC Editor, RDA Project Manager

Why change from AACR to RDA?

Environmental changes Different user expectations Different forms of media and methods of

publishing

Why change from AACR to RDA? (cont.)

Need for integration of standards Pressures to simplify the cataloguing process

and reduce cataloguing costs Inherent problems with the rules

Strengths of AACR International success Integrated approach to resource description Tight control over development Shared expertise Precision Content standard

Progress so far International Conference on the Principles &

Future Development of AACR (Toronto, 1997)

Strategic plan for AACR developed in 2002 Editor appointed in 2004 Draft of part 1 of AACR3 issued in late 2004 RDA conceived in 2005 RDA due to be published in mid-2008

What changes will RDA bring?

Simplification Generalisation Removal of emphasis on print More emphasis on digital resources Compatibility with other metadata standards

What changes will RDA bring? (cont.) Improved collocation in displays Online product for use in the Web environment Incorporation of principles derived from FRBR

(Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) and FRAR (Functional Requirements for Authority Records)

Inclusion of more principle-based guidelines

What changes will RDA bring? (cont.) Support of the objectives of resource

discovery: to find, identify, select, and obtain relevant resources

Independence from communication format (MARC)

Separation of guidelines for content from guidelines for display

What changes will RDA bring? (cont.)

Renaming of concepts (e.g. “main entry” to “primary access point”)

Clarification of definition of “notes” New elements to replace GMD and SMD

What changes will RDA bring? (cont.)

Process of transcription simplified Mandatory (required) elements indicated All examples to be reviewed Mapping to MARC 21 and Dublin Core

FRBR

Work

Expression

Manifestation

Item

Structure of RDA Part A (Bibliographic record elements)

Resource Description Relationships

Part B (Authority record elements) Access Point Control

Appendices Glossary Index

Part A: Resource Description and Relationships Introduction to part A General guidelines Identification of the resource (Identify) Technical (or carrier) description (Select) Content description (Select) Information on accessing the resource

(Obtain)

Part A (cont.) Related resources Persons, families, and corporate bodies

associated with a resource Special instructions for particular types of

content

Part B: Access Point Control Introduction to part B General guidelines Access points for persons Access points for families Access points for corporate bodies Access points for places Controlled access points for works, etc. Other information used in access point control

Appendices, etc. Appendix A. Capitalization Appendix B. Abbreviations Appendix C. Initial articles Appendix D. Presentation of data Glossary Index

Ongoing work Mode of issuance Internationalisation Persistent identifiers and URLs Appendices Access points for families Examples Glossary

Implementation of RDA

Compatibility with existing records Training Documentation

Future timeline May – September 2006: Completion of draft of

second part of Part A, and constituency review October 2006 – April 2007: Completion of Part B,

and constituency review May 2007 – September 2007: Completion of

General Introduction, Appendices, and Glossary 2008: Publication 2008?: Implementation

JSC Outreach Stakeholder consultation Outreach Group Specific initiatives

ONIX MARC System vendors

Transition to RDA Consult the JSC Web site for:

RDA drafts Instructions for subscribing to RDA-L JSC’s strategic plan for RDA Other news and announcements

www.collectionscanada.ca/jsc