RDA RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ACCESS

RDA RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ACCESS

Definition: RDA A new set of descriptive cataloguing rules developed by the Joint Steering Committee to replace the current set of rules referred to as Anglo- American Cataloguing Rules, 2 nd edition or AACR2. RDA is a content standard that encourages the recording of sufficient data and then parses that data into clearly indentifiable data elements. The goal of RDA is to produce data that can support improved search and navigation with the end result of improving the display of the results.

RDA A SHORT HISTORY RDA development began in 2002, when the Joint Steering Committee decided to update AACR2. Originally there was going to be an AACR3, but it was decided upon in 2005 that RDA would be the new format. In the subsequent years following 2005 new piecemeal drafts were added each year to the collection until 2008 when a complete draft was issued.

RDA A SHORT HISTORY The reviews and revisions to the draft took place in 2009, and in 2010 the finished product was unveiled and published as the RDA Toolkit. http://www.rdatoolkit.org/

RDA S STARTING POINT: FRBR AND FRAD The theoretical framework of RDA, which focuses on content, originated in FRBR and FRAD. All user tasks in RDA relate back to the FRBR and FRAD models. It is difficult to understand RDA without first understanding a little about FRBR and FRAD.

WHAT RDA IS MADE OF AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2 nd edition: the previous standard for library cataloging. FRBR- Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records: a conceptual model, or a way of understanding the bibliographic data. FRAD Functional Requirements for Authority Data: a framework for authority data.

FRBR TASKS FRBR describes user tasks using bibliographic data Find-Find an entry, or entries, which matches to a searcher s inquiry in a file of database. Identify The entry or entity must be indentified as the correct one a search is looking for. Select Is the entity right as far as format, content, or other characteristics? Obtain- If selected, the entity must now be acquired or accessed electronically.

FRAD TASKS FRAD describes tasks using authority data: Find- Find an entry or entity matching given criteria. It may also look for bibliographic entities which use those same criteria. Identify- Identify that found entity is the one sought. It may also use the form of name as another access point to search. Contextualize- Clarify the entity by putting it in proper context. Justify- The reason that an entity is chosen or a controlled access point is used is documented.

MORE ON FRBR, FRAD, AND RDA RDA is basically a set of instructions for cataloging which is based on FRBR and FRAD. RDA s vocabulary, structure, and concepts arose from the FRBR and FRAD models. RDA contains elements that were absent in AACR2, and which were borrowed from FRBR and FRAD. RDA borrowed attributes from FRBR and FRAD, but absent from AACR2, because they made RDA more user-friendly.

RDA: A COMPLICATED SOLUTION TO AN EVEN MORE COMPLICATED PROBLEM RDA and other examples of cataloging models are very detailed and complicated. Even so-called simple diagrams seem extensive and are not too illuminating. A good introductory resource: Introducing RDA: A Guide To The Basics By Chris Oliver American Library Association Chicago 2010

RDA S USES AND BENEFITS RDA s chief benefit is that it was developed to be used with electronic resources. Because it can be used with any community, such as archives, digital resources, and museums, it is not limited to library use-as ACCR2 was. RDA can be used to catalog resources which don t even exist yet. RDA also has less bias in its cataloging because it was developed for international use.

USE OF RDA Important for the future cataloging e-books. Past rules of cataloguing had the disadvantage of being inapplicable to electronic resources. RDA will avoid the past problems by using flexible metadata formats and technologies. Uses for RDA outside of libraries: RDA s strength is in its crossover value by helping data be exchanged between different metadata providers. RDA provides an easier set of rules making the data more useful to communities outside of the library.

USE OF RDA RDA s long term value will be measured by its accommodation of the needs of cultural institutions other than libraries. RDA in fact may be too simple according to many catalogers who feel it may be a disservice to library catalogs. Although RDA s simplification makes it s a great service to other communities especially those in the international community.

RDA AND AACR2 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST AACR2 arranges chapters by the type of information resource, and then by type of main or added access points, which are considered to be weak access points. Most importantly, AACR2 is not based on the idea of a work, but rather is based on the unit record system, which is just the item. In contrast, RDA puts much more emphasis on authority control as well as having a vastly different structure then its predecessor.

RDA AND AACR2 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST As outlined in the RDA Scope and Structure, the new rules are divided into ten sections: sections 1-4 cover elements corresponding to the entity attributes, and sections 5-10 cover elements corresponding to the relationships defined in FRBR and FRAD. RDA s focus then turns to what type of description the record should represent; comprehensive, analytical, or multi-level. In cataloguing terminology an entry is analytical if it includes a description or analysis of the sub-parts of the resource being catalogued.

RDA AND AACR2 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST The big difference using the RDA format is that the variety of the resource format represented in a library catalog is not in question. RDA now centers more heavily on the scope of the representation. This shift allows the catalog to accommodate the interpretation and depiction of relationships between resources more readily within a dynamic library environment. RDA in contrast to AACR2 is now able to create records that may represent more than one resource, and may group and display records in order to show more clearly how they are related.

EVALUATION OF RDA RDA is based on a theoretical framework that is designed for the digital environment which allows for a much broader scope then AACR2. Broad scope allows RDA to have more access points, which makes a user-friendly environment. RDA maintains a flexible framework by using content description of all types of resources and types of content.

EVALUATION OF RDA In contrast to AACR2, RDA is able to add electronic and media resources easily RDA is not just for the library community. It is adaptable to the specific needs of all communities. RDA allows for description of all types of resources archives and museum collections. Most importantly it is able to be adapted to the international context.

EVALUATION OF RDA RDA has broken the old boundaries of AACR2. RDA has created a format that uses electronic resources and also has left the formatting open to allow for new sources not yet invented. Now that is forward thinking. RDA goes where the users are. Online!

EVALUATION OF RDA RDA surveyed the needs of librarians, and created a platform that would most benefit them. The advantage of RDA is the mapping between specific user tasks and the elements of bibliographic and authoritative data. RDA also maintains an objective cataloguing framework while being responsive to the users needs.

EVALUATION OF RDA THE BENEFITS RDA lessens the bias of AACR2 and aims for internationalism with its objective cataloguing system by being much more precise in the data recording phase. An example of this type of biased treatment in AACR2 is that there were much more detailed access points for the Bible than any other set of sacred scriptures. RDA seeks a consistent treatment of all sacred scriptures. Sufficient data recordation is done through collocation..

EVALUATION OF RDA THE FINAL WORD RDA was written as a content standard deliberately. Advantages of this system allows for an improved resource discovery experience for the user. The library staff benefits from data that is precisely defined. This aides in responding to information requests, developing the collection, and acquiring resources. In the end RDA creates a user-friendly environment that is forward thinking and capable of being used in the international community.

SOURCES Belanger, J. (2007). Cataloguing e-books in uk higher education libraries: report of a survey. Program: electronic library and information systems, 41(3), doi: 10.1108/00330330710774093 Ehlert, Mark K. (2010). Just like AACR2, except... (Part 1). Technicalities, 30 (5), p. 17-21. Medeiros, N. (2005). The future of the anglo-american cataloguing rules. OCLC Systems & Services, 21(4), doi: 10.1108/10650750510629607 Medeiros, N. (2006). The future of the anglo-american cataloguing rules. OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives, 22(2), doi: 10.1108/10650750610663941 Oliver, C. (2010). Introducing RDA: a guide to the basics. American Library Association, Chicago.

SOURCES CONTINUED New & noteworthy. (2007). Library Hi Tech News, 24(6), Retrieved from http://0www.emeraldinsight.com.www.whitelib.emporia.edu/journ als.htm?issn=07419058&volume=24&issue=6&articleid=1623713 &show=html Testing resource description and access (rda). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/bibliographic-future/rda/ Tillett, B. (2009). Looking to the future: information systems and metadata. Proceedings of the CCS Forum, FRBR and RDA: a glimpse into the future of cataloging and public displays, http://wikis.ala.org/midwinter2009/images/e/e3/mw09_tillett.pdf Westlind, M. (2008). Dynamic materials force dynamic cataloguing: accessible materials in a new digital age. Library Review, 57(6), doi: 10.1108/00242530810886698