Archive for the ‘RDA’ Category

Making the Most of RDA Toolkit’s Open-Access Period Webinar

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Recently one of our Project Managers, Jeremy, sat down to watch the latest RDA webinar, these are his thoughts and notes from the webinar.

On June 17-18, Troy Linker from ALA Publishing presented a few webinars about how to make the most out of the open-access period for the RDA Toolkit.  This open-access will be from the launch of the RDA Toolkit in mid-June (any day now) until the end of August.   A few people from Backstage attended this webinar and here is a summary of what was presented.

First off, Troy went over a brief overview of what RDA and the RDA toolkit are and who created these.  This was a very brief and basic overview that didn’t really have any new information.

Next, the open-access period was discussed.  They still don’t have an exact date for when this will start, but it should be very soon.  There will be no charge to access the RDA toolkit during this time.  It is possible to pre-register for access right now on the RDA Toolkit website.

The RDA Toolkit has a built-in help system that will serve as a manual.  The website currently has an FAQ section with many questions about RDA.  There will be an RDA Toolkit Support Center for problems with the toolkit.  The website also has tools for presenting on RDA and a calendar of different training sessions.

After discussing these things, Troy did a demonstration of the toolkit.  Within the toolkit, there will be the text of RDA, the RDA element set view, mappings, user-contributed content, relationship diagrams, schemas, and also AACR2.

There are two ways to have access to the RDA Toolkit: either as a solo-user or as an institution.   User profiles can be created for every user, no matter how many users there are for each subscription.  With a user profile, you can save, create, and share user-created content through the toolkit.  For an institutional user, it is necessary to login as the institution and then to login as the user in order to access your personal user-created content.

The RDA toolkit has been designed to work well with all of the major internet browsers.  Once you have logged in to your account, you will be able to access all items in the RDA Toolkit.  You can personalize the toolkit with bookmarks, saved searches, workflows, and mappings through the “My Profile” link.  There is a link to the support center to report anything that is causing difficulties.

On the left-side of the page, there are tabs for RDA, Tools, and Resources.  The RDA tab has the full text of RDA that can be browsed through with an extensive hierarchy.  The Tools tab has the RDA element set view, mappings, workflows, mappings, and entity relationship diagrams.  Currently, the only mappings that are available are between RDA and MARC bibliographic and authority records.  They plan to add more mappings in the future and it is also possible to add your own mapping and share it with others.  It is also possible to create and share your own workflows.  The Resources tab will have content such as AACR2.

There are two options for searching: an RDA quick search and an advanced search.  With the quick search, you are only able to search the content of RDA and not the other resources provided in the toolkit.  With an advanced search, you can limit your search to any of the resources provided.  After you have completed a search, you can save it for future reference.

Troy briefly discussed subscription and pricing options, including an option to purchase a printed version of RDA.   The main thing that was emphasized with this is that they are able to work with libraries in specials situations, but they have to treat everyone equally.  Some special situations that may get special treatment would be pricing for consortiums, extra users for training purposes, etc.

There are a few future enhancements that they are looking at, such as linking from AACR2 to RDA, linking to other cataloging tools, improving user preferences, and integrating translations into the toolkit.

In the demo, Troy made everything look very user-friendly and easy to access.  Once the open-access period has begun, it will be interesting to see how easy it is to use when there are thousands to people constantly accessing it.

These webinars were recorded and will be available on http://www.rdatoolkit.org.  The questions that participant’s had will also be posted to the FAQ section of this website.

Final Countdown to RDA

Friday, June 4th, 2010

Well, June is here, and we’re counting down to the launch of RDA (Resource Description and Access).  The launch date is set for the middle of the month (we’re keeping our fingers crossed) but I don’t believe there is an exact date set.  What is actually being launched is the RDA Toolkit.  This is the online access to the new rules.  In the words of the publishers:  “The resource to help you navigate from AACR2 to RDA—the new, unified standard for resource description and access, designed for the digital world and an expanding universe of metadata users.”

The Toolkit will be available by subscription, but to help ease the transition, the publishers are offering a complimentary open-access period from the launch date of mid-June to August 31, 2010.  You can sign up here:

http://www.rdatoolkit.org/openaccess

And to help you get started, the publishers have also provided a guided tour of the Toolkit and a list of other training events.  Here’s the link:

http://www.rdatoolkit.org/training – scroll down to find the guided tour.  You’ll need Adobe Flash Player, but they provide the link for a free download.

And now, for something really different.  For all of you anticipating the arrival of RDA with acute trepidation, (and even those of you looking forward to it with excitement) I’ve found a way to ease the pain.  Let me introduce you to the “Resource Description and Access Happy Fun Time Companion” from Penny Baker and the folks at the Clark Art Institute Library.  (CAI is one of the US Testing Partners.)  I think this site is the most fun to be had with RDA, but don’t let the title or its looks fool you.  Along with the craziness, this site is chock full of serious and valuable information about all things RDA, FRBR, training, new MARC fields, examples, etc.  I was trying to compile a new list of RDA related links, but this site has them all. There’s too much to describe, you just have to look through it.  Go ahead, learn lots and have some fun.  Find the hilarity in all the hysteria.

http://sites.google.com/site/codlinandshort/

Happy reading!

Karen

RDA Changes in MARC Records

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Karen, our RDA Librarian, provided me with a fascinating report on recent changes to MARC, in many instances to accommodate the additional information in RDA. Here’s what she had to say.

Now that MARC21 Update 11 has been published, I’ve done through both the Bibliographic format standards and the Authority format standards and made a list of all the changes made to them from 2008 to the present.  They are listed by tag, with the Bibliographic format changes first, then the Authority format changes listed.  I have included the link to the tag description in the MARC21 Standards.  Also, after each change I’ve given the link to the MARBI proposal for that change in case you would like to see the reasoning behind it.  These will have the word marbi in the link and are directly after the actual change

Changes made to directly or indirectly accommodate RDA are marked with an *.  For more information on how RDA is affecting MARC21 see the document “RDA in MARC” found on the MARC21 Standards home page:  http://www.loc.gov/marc/RDAinMARC29.html

I hope you find this helpful.  Please feel free to point out any that I have missed.

Bibliographic format changes by field as of Mar. 2010

*Leader/18 – Descriptive cataloging form   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bdleader.html

Note: will be coded i with RDA

http://www.loc.gov/marc/RDAinMARC29.html

*007/01 – Electronic Resource (007/00=c)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007g.html

New codes defined [2009]

d – disc, type unspecified

e – disc cartridge, type unspecified

k – computer card

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*007/01 – Projected Graphic (007/00=g)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007g.html

Redefined code: [2009]

f – other or unspecified type of filmstrip (changed from Other type of filmstrip)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*007/01 – Microform (007/00=h)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007h.html

New codes defined: [2009]

j – microfilm roll

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-3.html

h – microfilm slip

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*007/01 – Nonprojected Graphic (007/00=k)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007k.html

New codes defined: [2009]

a – activity card

k – poster

p – postcard

q – icon

r – radiograph

s – study print

v – photograph, type unspecified

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*007/01 – Motion Picture (007/00=m)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007m.html

New code defined: [2009]

o – film roll

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-3.html

*007/04 – Map (007/00=a)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007a.html

*007/04 – Globe (007/00=d)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007d.html

*007/04 – Nonprojected Graphic (007/00=k)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007k.html

New codes defined: [2009]

i – plastic

l – vinyl

n – vellum

v – leather

w – parchment

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

007/04 – Videorecording (007/00=v)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007v.html

New code defined: [2008]

s – Blu-ray disc

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-09.html

*007/05 – Nonprojected Graphic (007/00=k)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd007k.html

New codes defined: [2009]

i – Plastic

l – Vinyl

n – Vellum

v – Leather

w – Parchment

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

008/18-19 & 006/01-02 – Music – Form of Composition (also valid in field 047 – Form of Musical Composition Code)  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008m.html

New codes defined: [2009]

za – Zarzuelas

fl – Flamenco

vi – Villancicos

tl – teatro lirico

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-09.html

*008/20 & 006/03 – Music – Format of Music http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008m.html

New codes defined: [2009]

h – chorus score

i – condensed score

j – performer-conductor part

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

008/23 & 006/06 – Books – Form of item  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008b.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/22 & 006/05 – Continuing Resources – Form of original item http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008s.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/23 & 006/06 – Continuing Resources – Form of item  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008s.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/23 & 006/06 – Computer File – Form of item http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008c.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/22-23 & 006/05-06 – Maps format – Projection  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008p.html

New codes defined: [2009]

bk – Krovak

bl – Cassini-Soldner

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-04.html

008/23 & 006/06 – Music – Form of item  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008m.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

00823 & 006/06 – Mixed Materials – Form of item  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008x.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/24-27 & 006/07-10 – Books – Nature of content  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008b.html

New codes defined: [2008]

y – Yearbooks.  –  made obsolete in 1988, but is now being redefined

2 – Offprints

5 – Calendars

6 – Comics/graphic novels  – this replaces 008/33 and 006/16 code c (comic strip)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-04.html

008/24 & 006/07 – Continuing Resources – Nature of Entire Work  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008s.html

New codes defined: [2008]

y – Yearbooks – this code was made obsolete in 1988, but is now being redefined

5 – Calendars

6 – Comics/graphic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-04.html

008/25-27 & 006/08-10 – Continuing Resources – Nature of contents  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008s.html

New codes defined: [2008]

y – Yearbooks

5 – Calendars

6 – Comics/graphic novels

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-04.html

008/29 & 006/12 – Map – Form of item  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008p.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/29 & 006/12 – Visual Materials – Form of item http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008v.html

New codes defined: [2010]

o – Online

q – Direct electronic

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-01.html

008/33 & 006/16 – Books format – Literary Form   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd008b.html

Obsolete code: [2008]

c – Comic strips – made obsolete (replaced by a code 6 in 008/24-27 or 006/7-10 for Books format.)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-04.html .

017 – Copyright or Legal Deposit Number   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd017.html

New subfield: [2008]

$z – Canceled/invalid copyright or legal deposit number (R)  [2008]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-08.html

*033 – Date/Time and Place of an Event   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd033.html

New subfields defined: [2010]

$p – Place of event

$0 – Record control number

$2 – Source of term

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-03.html

034 – Coded Cartographic Mathematical Data http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd034.html

New subfield: [2010]

$3 – Materials specified

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-05.html

*040 – Cataloging Source http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd040.html

Subfield made repeatable [2010]

$e – Description conventions

code “rda” added to the MARC code list for Descriptive Conventions to indicate the use of the RDA rules for description. Leader/18 will be coded i with RDA.

041 – Language Code   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd041.html

New first indicator [2008]

# – No information provided – Formerly undefined

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-03.html

080 – Universal Decimal Classification Number http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd080.html

Redefined Indicator 1 – Type of edition – Prior to 2009 undefined
# – No information provided
0 – Full
1 – Abridged

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-03.html

082 – Dewey Decimal Classification Number   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd082.html

New subfields defined:  [2008]

$m – Standard or optional designation (NR)  code values:

a  – Standard

b – Optional

$q – Assigning agency (NR)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html

083 – Additional Dewey Decimal Classification Number  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd083.html

New field: [2008]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html#proposal01-5

085 – Synthesized Classification Number Components   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd085.html

New field: [2008]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html#proposal01-6

257 – Country of Producing Entity   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd257.html

Removed ‘for Archival Films’ from title.  Made tag repeatable.

Subfield redefined: [2009]

$a – Country of producing entity – subfield renamed & made repeatable

New subfield defined: [2009]

$2 –  Source

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-08.html

*336 – Content Type   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd336.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*337 – Media Type   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd337.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

*338 – Carrier Type   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd338.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html

New code under $b

ur – object

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-3.html

*380 – Form of Work  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd380.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

*381 – Other Distinguishing Characteristics of Work or Expression   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd381.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

*382 – Medium of Performance   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd382.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

*383 – Numeric Designation of a Musical Work  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd383.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

*384 – Key    http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd384.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

440 – Series Statement/Added Entry – Title

Field made obsolete  http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd440.htm – this link contains instructions for conversion to appropriate 490/830 fields.

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-07.html

490 – Series Statement   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd490.html

1st indicator redefined – Series traced, formerly Series traced differently

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-07.html

Subfield redefined:

$x – made repeatable

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-2.html

New subfield defined:

$3 – Materials specified

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-06.html

502 – Dissertation Note   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd502.html

New subfields defined: [2008]

$b – Degree type

$c – Name of granting institution

$c – Year degree granted

$g – Miscellaneous information

$o – Dissertation identifier

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-05-4.html

510 – Citation/References Note   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd510.html

New subfield defined:

$u – Uniform Resource Identifier (R)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-05.html

*518 – Date/Time and Place of an Event Note http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd518.html

New subfields defined: [2010]

$d – Date of event

$o – Other event information

$p – Place of event

$0 – Record control number

$2 – Source of term

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-03.html

534 – Original Version Note   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd534.html

New subfields:

$o – Other resource identifier (R) [2008]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-10.html

$3 – Materials specified [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-10.html

542 – Information Relating to Copyright Status   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd542.html

New field: [2008]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-02.html

588 – Source of Description Note   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd588.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-07.html

*700, 710, 711, 730 –    http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd70x75x.html

New subfield: [2009] (see X00, X10, X11 sections for description)

$i – Relationship information

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

*760, 762, 765, 767, 770, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 780, 785, 786, 787 – Linking Entries   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd76x78x.html

Subfields redefined [2009]

$g – Related parts (R) – renamed from Relationship information text

$i – Relationship information (R) renamed from Display text and made repeatable

New subfield defined [2009]

$4 – Relationship code (added for RDA Appendix J)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

*787 – Other Relationship Entry   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd787.html

Renamed from Nonspecific Relationship Entry [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

800, 810, 811, 830 – Series Added Entries   http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd80x83x.html

New subfields defined: [2008]

$x – International Standard Serial Number

$3 – Materials specified

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-06.html

$5 – Institution to which field applies [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-02.html

*New Subfield – $0 – Authority Record Control Number

Added to the following fields

100, 110, 111, 130, 240, 600, 610, 611, 630, 648, 650, 651, 654, 655, 656, 657, 662, 700,                                     710, 711, 730, 752, 754, 800, 810, 811, 830

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2007/2007-06.html#p1

Authority format changes by field as of Mar. 2010

034 – Coded Cartographic Mathematical Data   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad034.html

New subfield codes: [2010]

$3 – Materials specified

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-05.html

040 – Cataloging Source http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad040.html

$e – Description conventions – made repeatable [2010]

code “rda” added to http://www.loc.gov/marc/relators/reladesc.html

see http://www.loc.gov/marc/RDAinMARC29.html

046 – Special Coded Dates    http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad046.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

New subfield codes [2010]

$k – Beginning or single date created

$l – Ending date created

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

080 – Universal Decimal Classification Number http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad080.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-03.html

083 – Dewey Decimal Classification Number   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad083.html

New subfield: [2008]

$y – Table sequence number for internal subarrangement or add table

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2008/2008-01.html#proposal01-1

336 – Content Type    http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad336.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-2.html – proposal

370 – Associated Place   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad370.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

371 – Address   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad371.html

New field [2009] (see Marc standards for description)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

372 – Field of Activity   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad370.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

373 – Affiliation   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad373.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

374 – Occupation   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad374.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

375 – Gender   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad375.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

376 – Family Information   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad376.html

New field: ([2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

377 – Associated Language   http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad377.html

New field: [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-01-1.html

380 – Form of Work http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad380.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

381 – Other Distinguishing Characteristics of Work or Expression http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad381.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

382 – Medium of Performance http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad382.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

383 – Numeric Designation of Musical Work http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad383.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

384 – Key http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad384.html

New field: [2010]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2010/2010-04.html

4XX, 5XX –

Subfield redefined (adjusted) [2009]

$i – Relationship information (done to accommodate RDA app. K and J)

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

New subfield

$4 – Relationship code [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

New subfield codes

$w/0 – r – Relationship designation in $i or $4 [2009]

http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2009/2009-06-1.html

See Tracings and References–General Information –http://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/adtracing.html for instructions on using these subfields.

Impressions from the first RDA Toolkit Webinar

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

I watched the RDA Toolkit webinar today, put on by the RDA group. I thought I’d share some of the impressions that I got out of it in the hopes that it would be somewhat useful. I should start off by noting that they did not intend this webinar to be very in-depth, but rather a kick-off of more information to come.

RDA will fully replace AACR2. This should go without saying, but I thought I’d better say it anyway. Even though the rules will be replaced, the RDA Toolkit will contain the full text of AACR2. The idea may be that if you know where a rule is specified in AACR2, you can look it up and it will cross link to the RDA rule. This should be a fairly handy feature for those of us who have worked with AACR2 for a long time.

Also mentioned was the ability for user generated content to be accessible in the RDA Toolkit. Whether this will be restricted to sharing information within your institution, or how it will be spread to other institutions is up in the air.  I’m not sure if this is something they’ve thought too much about yet.

A subscription can be for a single individual user or multi-user. If multiple users will be connecting, you will have a profile login in addition to your user login. This allows one institution to have a single or a few RDA licenses but have many more users, but there can only be as many users logged in at a time as there are licenses. For example, if you have 3 subscriptions you could have 10 (or more) users with their own profiles, but only 3 could connect at a given time.

The RDA Toolkit is a web-based collection of documents, and it’s been put together in a pretty slick manner. The current visuals don’t do justice to the functionality that the website offers, though I’m sure those visuals (graphics, fonts, and design) will be updated prior to launch. For example, the RDA tab (found on the upper left side of the screen) gives one access to an expanding tree-view of the RDA rules. Clicking a category will take you to the section in the chapter you’ve selected. You can place and share bookmarks and notes inside of the document. It’s very well done, as I said. My concern is that clicking on a subheading or a chapter opens the entire chapter; the example he showed would have been 95 pages if printed. The processing power needed to run all of the javascript code and the sheer amount of data being worked with leads me to believe that there could be some very slow pages, especially for users with older computers, slow internet connections, or heaven forbid are still running Internet Explorer 6.

Inside the documents you’ll find a plethora of links and cross references, nicely color coded and branded as to what sort of information they lead to. For example, links to other sections in the RDA rules book are coded in blue, while links to glossary terms have a triangle.  They also include links between the AACR2 rules and corresponding RDA rules.  This will be really useful when moving from AACR2 to RDA.

Searching RDA will allow you a nice number of options.  I particularly liked the fact that you could sort the results in terms of relevancy or order they appeared in the document.  You are also able to limit searches to specific chapters, sections, media types, content, examples, etc.

A fair amount of time was spent discussing how they wanted to work with vendors to allow them to link into the Toolkit within their products (to give specific helps and instructions).  However, the institution will still need a subscription or the links won’t work. Another topic people are worried about is a print version. They seem to believe that it isn’t necessary, or a good idea.  You can print each chapter on your own, however, like I mentioned earlier, chapter 3 alone was 95 pages which would be quite costly to print.  Plus you would lose all of the cross linking that you get with the electronic edition.

They mentioned an open access period from launch (expected June, 2010) to August 31st, 2010.  After the open access period, you will be able to get a 30-day free trial to test the RDA Toolkit before purchasing a license. One nice feature:  if you set up bookmarks and links during your trial you won’t lose them when you purchase a license.

For more information and to be added to an email list, email rdatoolkit@ala.org or visit http://www.rdaonline.org

RDA Toolkit – Guided Tour Webinar

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

On February 8, 2010 and February 9, 2010, Troy Linker from ALA Publishing is presenting a guided tour of the RDA Toolkit website:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/639494355

Registration is quick and easy (and free apparently) and will cover these topics (from the above link):

  • Description of the RDA Toolkit
  • Overview of the RDA Toolkit contents at launch and beyond
  • Tour of the RDA Toolkit interface including Search, Browse, Bookmarks, Workflows, Maps, and more
  • Launch timeline
  • Details of the Complimentary Open Access period
  • RDA Toolkit pricing for the US
  • Linking from external products to the RDA Toolkit

February 8 – 1 hour : 21:00 – 22:00 GMT (4:00 pm EST)

February 9 – 1 hour : 16:00 – 17:00 GMT (11:00 am EST)

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/991492442

RDA Updates from ALA

Monday, February 1st, 2010

RDA – Jan. 15, 2010 – http://connect.ala.org/node/92572

Disclaimer: One of our Backstage staff (Maritta Coppieters) attended the all-day training session at ALA, but then also had to jump on a plane to England, so these updates are based on conversations I had with Maritta before she left:

  • LC is making allowance to put the authority control number in the heading in a $0, so that the heading will link to a specific authority record. LC isn’t going to implement this right now and will still be linking with the actual authority record, but it is something they are planning.
  • Lots of rules are going away and becoming more intuitive.
  • Old Latin abbreviations are being discarded.
  • The rule of thumb is: Key it like you see it.
  • The focus isn’t so much on editing and conforming things to a set of rules, more like representing the material as you find it. The idea is that if you download content from a publisher and the book title has an abbrevaition, you leave it the way it is.
  • Trust the item in hand rather than applying a set of rules to it.
  • LC will publish RDA by June ALA. Then we have 3 months to train and practice. Then another 3 months to test specific scenarios and report back to LC. Then LC will take 3 months to write up the results (Q1 2011).

The RDA Toolkit price has been set at: $325 for the first user, $55 for each additional user. This price is set to be an annual subscription, rather than a one-time fee. As a comparison, the AACR2 life-time price is around $95 per user (non-members).

More information regarding the RDA Toolkit can be found here:
http://celeripedean.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/the-rda-toolkit/

Stay tuned as we prepare a more comprehensive update about the direction RDA is heading and how we are a part of it.