RDA Bootcamp

RDA Bootcamp

Vermont Library ConferenceMay 21, 2013

Presenters

Tom McMurdoCollections & Digital Initiatives Librarian, VTLib

Helen LindaSystems & Technical Services Librarian, Goddard College

Amber BilleyCatalog/Metadata Librarian, University of Vermont

Christine WebbCataloger & Reference Librarian, Fletcher Free Library

AgendaIntroduction to RDA

● What is it?● Why is it?

The Very Basics of RDA● Bibliographic Description● Access Points

Implementing RDA ● It's all in progress● System & policy prep

Introduction to RDA

What are we talking about today?

RDA: Recommended Daily Allowance?

No...

Introduction to RDA

I have heard: RDA: Retirement Day Approaching?

Not that...

Introduction to RDA

RDA: Real Diaper Association?(And, yes, there is a Real Diaper Association.)

Definitely not...

Introduction to RDARDA Recommended Daily/Dietary Allowance

RDA Redevelopment Agency (various locations)

RDA Riding for the Disabled Association

RDA Registered Dental Assistant

RDA Regional Development Agency (UK)

RDA Richard Dean Anderson (actor)

RDA Regional Development Authority (various locations)

RDA Regional Development Australia

RDA Remote Data Access (Sprint)

RDA Redevelopment Authority

RDA Research, Development, & Acquisition

RDA Rassemblement Democratique Africain (French: African Democratic Rally)

RDA Resources Development Administration (Avatar)

ACRONYM OVERLOADWith all the acronyms thrown around in our profession, I wondered for a while if I could give this

presentation entirely in acronyms. Then I got a hold of myself and retreated from the brink.

Introduction to RDA

RDA: Resource Description and Access

Introduction to RDA

In the late 1990s, talks began about updating AACR2. RDA emerged from these discussions.

On March 31, 2013, the Library of Congress officially adopted RDA as their bibliographic cataloging standard.

Introduction to RDA

This long gestation period meant that many of us heard "RDA is coming!" for several years.

"And, as long as I'm

here: in the last record

you cataloged, there

is a punctuation

mistake in the 300

field!"

Introduction to RDA

Because we heard "RDA is coming" for so long, I think it caused undue anxiety and made the changes with RDA overblown.

RDA does make changes to the way we catalog things. Most of these are welcome adjustments that put more power in the hands of the cataloger. But, in a day-to-day sense, RDA doesn't radically change what we do.

Introduction to RDA

Why RDA? Two words: 245 ... $h Electronic resource.

That covers everything from a transistor radio to the Mars rover. We need a better way to describe things.

FRBR - The Foundation of RDA

Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records

● Abstraction of how we can think about bibliographic records to facilitate relationships between data elements and between data and users.

● Not a set of rules.● State of mind.

Introduction to RDA

Introduction to RDAFRBR - The Foundation of RDA

Introduction to RDA

What RDA does (more details coming):

RDA sets the stage for a much more user-friendly catalog. Imagine searching for "The Grapes of Wrath," and instead of getting innumerable records for different book editions, DVDs, videotapes, audio books, etc., the user sees one record for the work "The Grapes of Wrath," then can select from formats. This is the first step to a much more powerful, intuitive catalog.

Introduction to RDA

What RDA doesn't do:

RDA does not destroy your catalog. Many institutions have hybrid catalogs currently. AACR2 was new once, too.

RDA does not make cataloging appreciably harder. For most records, there will only be a few changes. With practice, we will all feel at home with RDA.

Introduction to RDA

What RDA doesn't do:

By simply scanning the ISBN or entering a title and publication date, RDA does not automatically generate a catalog record by crawling the web and pulling in linked data...yet.

That is still coming.

And, don't worry, catalogs will always need catalogers.

Introduction to RDA

To briefly summarize: RDA gives us a better way to describe things in plain English.

RDA puts more power in the hands of the cataloger.

RDA is a small change.

RDA has a lot of future potential.

The Very Basics of RDA - Description

You are NOT starting from scratch!

Practically speaking RDA is like AACRII, but it...

● Removes the constraints of cataloging for index cards.

● Is format & encoding standard neutral. ● Adds potential for catalog records to work with

theories like FRBR and developing technologies like linked data.


We're nearly there already!


The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionIf you get nothing else out of today, remember this:

TAKE WHAT YOU SEE

ACCEPT WHAT YOU GET

The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionTake What You See & Accept What You Get

applies to everything...really! Cataloger's Judgement as you always imagined it!

● Capitalization● Abbreviation

● Typos● Chief Sources of Information

● Publication Info● Description

● Supporting Resources● EVERYTHING


What of the Chief Source of Information?

Info can be taken from any reasonable source, not just the item in hand.

AACRII Title Page & Verso

+

RDAEverything Else


RDA has unique identifiers in the MARC record.

The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionTranscribe what you see:No more latin, [sic] corrections, punctuation uniformity, and only small number of commonly recognized abbreviations.

Differences in the Public Catalog

New RDA Content, Media,

& Carrier elements

replace General Material

Designation [GMD]


The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionDifferences in

the MARC Record

New RDA Content, Media,

& Carrier elements

replace General Material

Designation [GMD]

The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionWhat's the difference?

GMD22 Terms

[art original] [microscope slides][art reproduction] [model][chart] [motion picture][diorama] [picture][electronic resource] [realia][filmstrip] [slide][flash card] [sound recording][game] [technical drawing][graphic] [toy][kit] [transparency][microform] [videorecording]

RDA ELEMENTS90 Terms

RDA Content25 terms

RDA Media 10 terms

RDA Carrier 9 Groupings

Audio - 8 termsComputer - 9 terms

Microform - 10 termsMicroscopic - 2 terms

Projected Image - 10 termsStereographic - 3 termsUnmediated - 7 terms

Video - 5 termsUnspecified - 1 term

The Very Basics of RDA - DescriptionPublication info looks the same in the public

catalog, but is in a new MARC field.

260 $a [S.l. : $b s.n., $c 1999].

264 _1$a [Place of publication not identified] : $b [publisher not identified], $c [1999].

Brackets in publication information - now enclose individual pieces of information.



NO MORE RULE OF THREE!!!!

Best. News. Ever.

NEW AUTHORITY CONTROL

● Not called headings anymore...access points

● Goals

○ Provide more contextual information ○ Commonly used terms○ No abbreviations○ Include families

The Very Basics of RDA - Access Points

Names and Subjects

● No more abbreviations!● Titles and terms with surnames

● Vermont. Department of Libraries.● Bible. Old Testament.● Williams, Hank, Jr., 1949-


More contextual information for names!

● Special Coded Dates (birth/death)● Other Attributes of Person or Corporate Body● Associated Place● Address● Field of Activity● Associated Group● Occupation● Gender● Family Information● Fuller Form of Personal Name



Relationship designators provide clarity and context. RDA Appendix I.2.

■ $e of 1xx and 7xx fields

Works100 $a Society of Linguists, $e author.

700 $a Linguists International, $e author.

100 $a Glass, Philip, $e composer.

Expressions700 1_ $a Scott, Brad, $d 1976- $e translator.

710 $a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, $e performer.

700 $a Slatskin, Leonard, $e conductor.


Relationship examples


Implementing RDA in Your CatalogDon't panic! The world is not ending.

RDA has probably already arrived in your catalog.

Your system might not be ready to receive RDA.

Ours wasn't...

Implementing RDA in Your Catalog

(but, we still can't import the copyright symbol)

We've mostly worked it out, it's going to be okay.


Determine if your system is ready for RDA

Does your ILS have the most recent MARC format update that includes RDA elements?

Do policies exist for 264, 33X and other RDA elements?

Can you edit the elements?

Find out how your system gets information to help patrons pick between the book, DVD, book on CD, downloadable audiobook, etc.


How do you want to use RDA?

1. Accept RDA records from OCLC & vendors.

2. Decide if you want to upgrade AACR2 records.

Avoid creating hybrid records (260 or 264, not both) by sticking to one set of rules. (but PCC just okayed hybrids, so....)


How will your ILS display the 33X fields?

How long until you're tired of explaining what "unmediated" is?

There are lots of undisplayed fields.

Maybe these join the list?


EXPERTS

There are none!

Mistakes will be made, practices will change.

Flexibility is the order of the day!


Resources

The Technical Services Section of VLA (formerly Cataloging Roundtable) is compiling ALL of the best resources for learning RDA.

http://vtcat.wordpress.com/resources/rda/




Thank you!

Any questions?

Education

RDA Bootcamp