THE NEW DIRECTIONS IN BIBLIOGRAPHIC CONTROL: THE STATUS QUO AND PROSPECTS OF RDA CATALOGUING CODE AND BIBFRAME

CATALOGUING FORMAT

LAURI ROINE

MASTER OF ARTS

UNIVERSITY OF OULU

BOBCATSSS 2017University of Tampere27.1.2017

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS…• To study description of information resources in libraries

• To scrutinize RDA cataloguing code and its’ relationship to AACR2 based codes

• To evaluate the new upcoming cataloguing format, Bibframe, and its’ relationship to current MARC21 format

• To find out how the means of FRBR could be deployed in library catalogues

• To argue how the new gradually emerging knowlegde models and cataloguing codes influence the library catalogues

• Current and relevant issues in the library community today

BACKGROUND• FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records)

Addressing the usability of bibliographic data produced in libraries

Describing such metadata which could potentially be useful to library patrons

Consists of entity groupso Group 1: Work (independent creation), expression (realization), manifestation

(edition), item (singlular example)o Group 2: Person, family, corporate bodyo Group 3: Subject, topic, content

Usage of data to find, identify, select and obtain library resources

Aiming to create uniform titles to all expressions, manifestations and items of the same work

BACKGROUND• RDA (Resource Description and Access)

Based on the Anglo-American Cataloguing Codes (AACR2)

Aiming to offer equal description oppurtunities for printed and digitized resources

Created from the basis of FRBR

Providing the possibility to browse databases and utilize the relationships created between FRBR entities

More precise than AACR2, creates specific identification of search elements (entities) and indicates the relationships of search elements to the descripted resources

BACKGROUND• Bibframe (Bibliographic Framework Transition Initiative)

A knowlegde model and an upcoming cataloguing format

Bibframe project initiated by LoC in 2011, still in-development

Expressed in RDF-format, which is primarily meant to describe online resources and their relationships

Deploys linked data, linking authority and bibliographic records to one another

Fully compatible with RDA and free of any cataloguing standards

MARC is outdated and not suitable for modern libraries

Consists of three main entities:o Work (FRBR’s work and expression, agents, subjects)o Instance (realization, various distinctive material embodiments of the work)o Item (singular copy of the realization of the work)

RESEARCH METHODS AND MATERIALS• Research questions:

1. How is the idea of FRBR actualized in RDA-based cataloguing?2. What added value does RDA bring to library cataloguing in contrast to AACR2-based cataloguing codes?3. What added value does Bibframe format and model bring to library cataloguing in contrast to MARC21-format?

• Questions answered by the means integrative literature review and empirical reconstruction of bibliographical records

• Literature mainly covers scientific peer-reviewed articles published within last five years (2011-2016)

• Empiric section is a demonstration which shows how RDA and Bibframe works in practice

• Research methods compliment each other and help to get a better general view than via just one method

RESULTS

• RDA cataloguing very much in line with FRBR’s idea

• Like in FRBR, RDA makes clear difference between the recording and presentation of data, since it’s possible to point out the relationships between the entities and their attributes

• RDA comprehensively able to support all kinds of media and content types, thanks to FRBR

• User and his or her needs are the priority of RDA, likewise FRBR

RESULTS• RDA potential added value is worth noticing because of its’ hiearchy, specificity and

machine-readability

• RDA encourages cataloguer to record all such information which can potentially be useful to users

• In contrast to AACR2 code, RDA instructs cataloguers to record so called core elements

which makes it easier to identify persons, communities, works and expressions

• In addition, it is integral for web environment that RDA provides relationship designators for pointing out the bibliographical relations

• RDA enables description of how various works are related, for example, how derivative works link to motion pictures or books based on other works, musical works and their librettos, and to link textual works and their adaptations

• However, it is prevented from the reaching its full potential by ongoing usage of MARC

RESULTS• For a long time, MARC has been considered as an outdated and insufficient

format in terms of modern library. As a new cataloguing format, Bibframe aims to be flexible and promotive when it comes to finding, identifying, selecting and obtaining resources within the library catalog

• Bibframe and linked data represent a road to an innovative environment in which metadata can be exchanged seamlessly and economically between the libraries

• On the other hand, Bibframe represents a paradigm shift in how libraries have historically managed, exchanged and shared the metadata

• Bibframe also aspires to point out the bibliographic relations likewise FRBR and RDA. This happens by deploying the linked data, which allows linking the records to one another. Thus bibliographic relations will become clearly visible

RESULTS• There is also a number of challenges for Bibframe

Libraries may be pondering whether it is profitable to embrace Bibframe since there is considerable lack of concrete display of the way Bibframe’s functions

Piloting and testing Bibframe is not possible in many present library systems and the system developers are not very eager to develop compatible programs because they do not profit from their efforts

The solution would be the broad and seamless cooperation of libraries, system developers and the whole of information community

Bibframe is also required to illustrate its’ worth as a follower of MARC-format

CONCLUSION• From the viewpoint of FRBR, RDA illustrates more comprehensive cataloguing than AACR2-based

codes since RDA covers all the levels of bibliographic hierarchy, work, expression, manifestation and item levels. Hierarchy on its own can be rather meaningless but when it comes to FRBR’s user tasks (finding, identifying, selecting and obtaining) it becomes a way more relevant.

• RDA cataloguing may be more challenging to carry out in practice but it brings a lot of added value to library catalogues and library users.

• It should be noted that usage of FRBR, RDA and Bibframe are not without obstacles. FRBR: Codes and practices based on the FRBR are needed RDA: Not very effective without a new more flexible and a less card catalogue like format Bibframe: Current library systems don’t support it and its’ linked data structure

CONCLUSION

• The landing of these new directions of bibliographic control is very dependable of format and system solutions. The current library systems are not fully compatible with FRBR, RDA and Bibframe and therefore they cannot be extensively used today.

• The subject of a future study could be development of such bibliographic system and catalog which would be equivalent to the requirements of FRBR, RDA and Bibframe.

Questions?Thoughts?Comments?

Thank you for your time!