Cataloguing and Metadata

RDA: Resource Description and Access
Frequently Asked Questions

Updated May 2009

• What is RDA?
• Why is RDA needed?
• Who is developing RDA?
• Who is publishing RDA?
• When will RDA be available?
• In what format will RDA be available?
• What will RDA cost?
• What about RDA in French?
• What are the national libraries doing about RDA?
• What needs to be done to implement RDA?
• What about systems?
• Will changes to OPAC displays be required?
• What are LAC's implementation plans for RDA?
• What about the Canadian Union Catalogue on AMICUS?
• How do I find out more about RDA?

What is RDA?

RDA : Resource Description and Access is the new descriptive cataloguing standard that will replace AACR2.

Why is RDA needed?

RDA has many of the strengths of AACR2 but its new features will make it more useful for description in the digital environment.

• RDA has been developed with the end-user in mind.
• RDA provides a consistent, flexible and extensible framework for the description of all types of resources, including digital resources and those with multiple characteristics.
• RDA is compatible with internationally established principles, models and standards.
• RDA is compatible with a range of encoding schemas, such as MODS, Dublin Core, ONIX and MARC, which will allow library bibliographic records to be integrated with those produced by other metadata communities, and to move into the digital environment beyond library catalogues.
• RDA will enable, with systems support, the grouping together of bibliographic records for different editions, translations or formats of a work, for a more meaningful display of data for users.
• RDA will be a web-based product, which will enable cataloguers to move between related instructions using hyperlinks, and integrate their own institutional policies.

Who is developing RDA?

Two international bodies are responsible for developing RDA - the Joint Steering Committee for RDA (JSC) and the Committee of Principals (CoP).

The JSC www.rda-jsc.org/index.html is responsible for developing the new cataloguing rules and for consulting with stakeholder groups. Membership of the JSC is drawn from the Canadian Committee on Cataloguing (CCC), the American Library Association (ALA), the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the Australian Committee on Cataloguing (ACOC), the British Library and the Library of Congress.

CCC, the Canadian Committee on Cataloguing www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ccc/ccc-e.htm represents the interests of Canadian libraries on the JSC. The Canadian member of the JSC is Margaret Stewart, Library and Archives Canada.

The JSC reports to the CoP, which is responsible for broad policy, budget and management issues. The CoP comprises representatives from the Canadian Library Association, American Library Associaiton, CILIP, the Library of Congress, Library and Archives Canada, the British Library, and the National Library of Australia. The Library and Archives Canada representative on the CoP is Gillian Cantello, Director General, Published Heritage Branch.

Who is publishing RDA?

The co-publishers of RDA are the American Library Association, the Canadian Library Association and in the U.K., the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The RDA Web product is being produced under contract with ALA.

When will RDA be available?

The complete draft of the content of RDA is now available online on the RDA Website at www.rdaonline.org/index.html. RDA Online (the product) is expected to be published by the end of 2009.

In what format will RDA be available?

RDA will be an online, web-based product.

What will RDA cost?

A subscription model is currently being developed by the co-publishers: American Library Association, Canadian Library Association and the Chartered Institute of Library and information Professionals (U.K.). Pricing details will be released closer to the publication date.

What about RDA in French?

A French version of RDA is planned. Details will follow as soon as they are available.

What are the national libraries doing about RDA?

Implementation is planned for approximately 9 - 12 months after the RDA Online product becomes available. During this time, the national libraries will undertake RDA testing, development of workflows, familiarization and training.

What needs to be done to implement RDA?

Each library will need to decide when they will implement RDA. RDA implementation will normally include training of staff, and potentially a review of cataloguing workflows and policy decisions in light of the new RDA standard.

Conversion of existing records will generally not be necessary, as records created using RDA are intended to integrate with AACR2 records in existing databases. Global updating of headings will be required in a few cases. For example, there will be changes to the structure of Bible uniform titles, and the abbreviated word "Dept". will be spelled out in full. The JSC has kept these changes to a minimum.

Changes to MARC21 are being made to accommodate new RDA data elements. Libraries will need to consult with their library system vendor about the vendor's plans to accommodate RDA changes.

What about systems?

Library systems will need to support the creation and exchange of RDA data. Systems vendors are aware of this impending change, chiefly requiring the accommodation of MARC21 changes. These MARC changes will need to be incorporated by vendors into the cataloguing modules of library systems to enable the import and/or export of bibliographic records. Changes will also be required to indexes in library systems to allow them to search and display the new data elements.

Conversion of existing records will generally not be necessary as records created using RDA are intended to integrate with AACR2 records in existing databases. However, global updating of headings will be required in a few cases, for example the headings for "Bible" will change in RDA and also headings for corporate names that include the abbreviation "Dept."

Will changes to OPAC displays be required?

It is hoped that eventually library systems and OPACs will evolve to take full advantage of the data created using RDA, with its underlying FRBR structure of work, expression, manifestation and item. These changes will improve the ease and effectiveness with which users are able to find, identify and obtain the resources they need. For example, resources in a variety of formats such as print, online, microform, sound recording might be grouped for display purposes to show they belong to a particular work or expression, allowing users to view and navigate between related works much more easily. However, realistically, given the time required for system developments, these changes might not be a reality for several years.

What are LAC's implementation plans for RDA?

Library and Archives Canada will implement RDA in coordination with the other anglo-american national libraries, once the RDA Online product is available. Decisions on which RDA options and alternatives LAC will follow will be made in conjunction with these libraries, to minimize differences in practice. Similarly, LAC will work with the national libraries on decisions regarding retrospective changes in legacy headings, with the aim of keeping these to a minimum.

LAC is in the process of seeking a new Integrated Library System, currently expected to be purchased and implemented in the second half of 2010. The new ILS would accommodate the MARC updates and other requirements for RDA. LAC's implementation of RDA would be coordinated with the new ILS.

More information on LAC implementation plans will be posted as it becomes available.

What about the Canadian Union Catalogue on AMICUS?

Records created using RDA are intended to integrate with AACR2 records in existing databases. Once RDA has been implemented, the Union Catalogue should be able to receive MARC records from Canadian libraries reflecting both AACR and RDA cataloguing rules.

How do I find out more about RDA?

The JSC Website www.rda-jsc.org/rda.html#presentations has links to a number of useful presentations made on RDA.