Resource Description and

AccessImplementation and Perception

in Europe

Why RDA?

Is cataloguing a diminishing field?

Photo source: https://www.bgsu.edu/library/nworbd/nworbd_info.html

Why RDA?

“[A]standard that allows the production of well-structured metadata to create advanced and interactive search tools and to allow users to access and obtain a wide range of informative resources, from the simple to the most complex contents.”1

1Published in: Bianchini, C., & Guerrini, M. (2016). The international diffusion of RDA: a wide overview on the new guidelines.JLIS.it, 7(2), 1-5. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-11844

Figure 1. The entity-relationship model.Published in: Amanda Sprochi; International Information & Library Review  2016, 48, 129-136.DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2016.1176455Copyright © 2016 Taylor & Francis

Why RDA?Entity-Relationship model

Why RDA?

RDA began as AACR3, a revised version of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition, and was designed to accommodate the description of digital materials.

Development

Why RDA?

It was recognised2 that a more international approach was required to fulfil the demands of the AACR2 cataloguers and to facilitate the sharing with their international colleagues.

International

2Tillett, B. (2016). RDA, or, The Long Journey of the Catalog to the Digital Age. JLIS.it, 7(2), 7-24. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-11643

Research Objectives

• The implementation decision-making process:Why? How? What?• Perception and attitudes• Comparison with the U.S. libraries• Examining cooperation among countries and libraries

Methodology

Literature review combined with semi-structured interviews with respondents from 12 countries, underwent thematic coding

• 5 face-to-face interviews• 8 email interviews

Implementing RDA

Some context: Most European countries have a centralised library system where the National Library is in charge of what bibliographic standards are used throughout the country. That makes the academic libraries less autonomous than in countries like the U.S. and UK.

Implementing RDA

Despite RDA’s international focus, the countries most inclined to adopt the new standard are coming from an AACR2 tradition.

AACR2 National rulesthe Czech Republic,

Slovakia, Denmark*, Estonia*, Finland*,

Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, the

UK, Luxembourg*, Switzerland**, Turkey

Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia, Italy,

Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Austria***, France,

Germany***, the Netherlands

*based***were considering AACR prior to RDA

**partly

Implementing RDA

• Digital materials• Interoperable• International • In sync with the wider cataloguing community

The reasons

Photo source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaWcU7rqqyA

Implementing RDA

• Training and online tools were heavily emphasised by all implementers

• Using change management to prepare for the implementation?

• The importance of translation varied

The process

Implementing RDA

• Unclear text structure• Worries about systems’ unsuitability• Need for better metadata formats, MARC not

good enough?• Generally positive attitude towards future

developments even if frustrated with current state

Issues and perceptionsThe implementation experience and issues did not differ significantly between the U.S. and European adopters:

Implementing RDA

• The European respondents are concerned with the high level of change in the new standard

• The European respondents seem to be more involved in the further development of the standard

• The European respondents are more prone to discuss the development of RDA for the Archives and Museums sector

Notable differences

RDA and the collaboration between libraries

• Cooperation on the implementation of RDA seen as a great benefit among U.S. libraries

• Collaboration between European libraries concerns future developments and closer working relations on resolving perceived issues and challenges

RDA as a catalyst to future developments

• Closer working relations establish closer community ties, leading to more collaboration on global issues, e.g.:

• Linked data• Metadata formats• Archives and Museums sector

Implementing RDA

• Have attitudes towards RDA evolved?• Are there other type of issues that have arisen?• How many of the updates in the standard are in consequence

to the issues encountered by various implementers?• Could the changes be expected to continue with more and

more countries/institutions implementing RDA?• How is the development of RDA influenced by the various

cultural perspectives the new implementers bring?

Thoughts for further research

Thank you!

Questions?

References• Bianchini, C., & Guerrini, M. (2016). ‘The international diffusion of RDA:

a wide overview on the new guidelines’.JLIS.it, 7(2), pp. 1-5. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-11844

• Sprochi, A. (2016) 'Where Are We Headed? Resource Description and Access, Bibliographic Framework, and the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records Library Reference Model'. International Information & Library Review, 48 (2), pp.129-136. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10572317.2016.1176455

• Tillett, B. (2016) 'RDA, or, The Long Journey of the Catalog to the Digital Age'. JLIS.it, 7 (2), pp.7-24. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4403/jlis.it-11643

Further Reading• Behrens, R., Aliverti, C. & Schaffner, V. (2016) 'RDA in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland - a new standard not only

for libraries'. JLIS.it, 7 (2), pp.253-278.• Bianchini, C., & Guerrini, M. (eds.) (2016). RDA, Resource Description and Access: The metamorphosis of cataloguing – JLIS.it, 7(2),

pp. 1-367• Cronin, C. (2011) 'From Testing to Implementation: Managing Full-Scale RDA Adoption at the University of Chicago'. Cataloging &

Classification Quarterly, 49 (7-8), pp.626-646.• Danskin, A. (2013) 'Linked and open data: RDA and bibliographic control'. JLIS.it, 4 (1), pp.147.• Goldberga, A., Kreislere, M., Sauka, J., Stürmane, A. & Virbule, I. (2014) 'RDA: From Strategy to Experiments and Implementation in

Latvia (Including an Overview of the Situation in the Baltic States)'. Journal of Library Metadata, 14 (3-4), pp.205-221.• Jin, Q. & Sandberg, J.A. (2014) 'Implementing RDA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library'. Technical Services

Quarterly, 31 (3), pp.217-236.• Lambroni, G. (2015) 'RIMMF and Olisuite/WeCat by @cult, or how to implement RDA'. JLIS.it, 6 (3), pp.175-180.• Sanchez, E. (2011) 'RDA, AACR2, and You: What Catalogers Are Thinking'. In: Sanchez, E. (ed.) Conversations with catalogers in the

twenty-first century. Santa Barbara, California: Santa Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited, pp. 53.• The Present and Future State of Rare Materials Cataloging: An International Perspective (2016). Cataloging & Classification

Quarterly, 54 (5-6), pp.277-401• Young, N.K. (2012) 'Effective Learning and Teaching of RDA: Applying Adult Learning Theory'. Journal of Library Metadata, 12 (2-3),

pp.188-198.