Good day catalogers! RDA and catalogers go hand in hand. While many librarians are aware of the changes, many more are still vague about the surrounding concepts of RDA. RDA stands for Resource Description and Access. It is
Good day catalogers! RDA and catalogers go hand in hand. While many librarians are aware of the changes, many more are still vague about the surrounding concepts of RDA. RDA stands for Resource Description and Access. It is the new bibliographic content standard, replacing AACR2 and is designed for the networked digital environment.
Two examples of RDA records
Libreros Salalm wrote in his blog that the rules for RDA are regarded by many as substantially the same; an AACR2 record may not look that different from an RDA record. However, in certain cases the rules have actually changed significantly.
Below are some of the apparent changes that can be seen in RDA records:
- AACR2 has a list of abbreviations that were used throughout the record. In RDA there are very few abbreviations used and most terms are spelled out.
AACR2: 300|a ca. 200 p. :|bchiefly ill. (some col.) ;|c32 cm.
RDA: 300|a aproximately 200 pages :|billustrations (some color) ;|c32 cm.
500|a Chiefly illustrations.
- There is an emphasis in RDA as to type what you see and to make our notes more explicative to the general public. Meanwhile, in AACR2 a cataloger would list all the authors only if there were 3 or less. In RDA the cataloger has the option to list all the authors on the title page.
AACR2: 245|a Anthropology /|cAlfred Kroeber … [et al.].
RDA: 245|a Anthropology /|cAlfred Kroeber, Milton Singer, Theodora Kroeber, Mark Roseland and Vincent Puddden.
RDA: 245|a Anthropology /|cAlfred Kroeber [and four others].
- There will also be changes to heading.
AACR2: Garland, Timothy, ca. 1837-1896.
RDA: Garland, Timothy, approximately 1837-1896.
AACR2: Garland, Timothy, b. 1825
RDA: Garland, Timothy, born 1825
AACR2: Simpson, Keith, Captain
RDA: Simpson. Keith (Soldier)
** NOTE: In RDA, the cataloger is allowed to qualify a name by profession or occupation.
RDA is designe