Resource Description and Access

Resource Description and Access
Name	Resource Description and Access
Abbreviation	RDA
Developedby	Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA
Firstpublished	2010
Latestversion	RDA Toolkit
Domain	Library and information science
Related	Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, MARC 21, Dublin Core

Resource Description and Access is a standard for cataloging and metadata description used by libraries, archives, and cultural heritage institutions. It updates and replaces earlier cataloging codes to reflect digital resources, international cataloging practices, and linked data principles. The standard is maintained and published through an online platform and is used in conjunction with machine-readable formats and metadata schemas.

History

RDA emerged from efforts involving the Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA, which included representatives from bodies such as the American Library Association, the British Library, Library of Congress, and the Canadian Committee on Cataloguing. Its development followed critiques of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules and was influenced by conceptual models like Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records and FRAD and the consolidation of cataloging practice after conferences attended by delegates from institutions including the Library of Congress, British Library, and National Library of Canada. The first edition appeared in 2010; subsequent updates have been coordinated with initiatives at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and national libraries such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.

Purpose and Scope

RDA provides guidance for describing resources and aggregating data about creators, works, expressions, manifestations, and items to support discovery in catalogs, union catalogs, and discovery layers. It is intended for use by catalogers at organizations like the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian Institution, the Library and Archives Canada, and the German National Library to create metadata that interoperates with formats such as MARC 21, Dublin Core, and BIBFRAME. The scope extends to printed books, serials, audiovisual materials, digital resources, archival collections, and museum objects cataloged by institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Vatican Library, and the National Diet Library.

Structure and Content Elements

The standard is organized around elements and instructions for recording attributes of works, expressions, manifestations, and items, and for creating access points for agents and subjects. Elements align with entity-relationship models used by projects like FRBR and FRBRoo, and are mapped to exchange frameworks including MARC 21 and BIBFRAME. Typical elements include title, statement of responsibility, edition, publication, physical description, series, notes, identifiers such as ISBN, and access points for persons, families, and corporate bodies such as the European Commission, the United Nations, or the World Health Organization. RDA also incorporates vocabularies and controlled lists analogous to those maintained by the Getty Research Institute, the Library of Congress Name Authority File, and the Virtual International Authority File.

Implementation and Transition from AACR2

Transitioning from Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) required policy decisions by agencies such as the Library of Congress, the British Library, and academic consortia including OCLC. Implementation involved mapping existing AACR2 records to RDA element sets, updating authority files, and revising workflows in integrated library systems produced by vendors like Ex Libris and Innovative Interfaces. Training programs were developed at institutions including Indiana University, University College London, and the University of Toronto to prepare catalogers for changes in description, access points, and encoding practices.

Adoption and Internationalization

Adoption levels vary: national libraries such as the Library of Congress, the British Library, and the National Library of Australia adopted RDA at differing times and with distinct local adaptations. Internationalization efforts engaged organizations like the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and national committees in countries including Japan, Germany, France, Canada, and Brazil to translate terms, align RDA with local languages and scripts, and map RDA to national bibliographic utilities. Collaborative projects with entities such as OCLC, HathiTrust, and regional consortia facilitated shared cataloging and metadata exchange.

Criticism and Reception

Responses to RDA have included praise for alignment with conceptual models and criticism for complexity, cost, and implementation burden. Stakeholders offering critique or evaluation include the Library of Congress, consortia like OLAC (Online Audiovisual Catalogers), and national library committees; concerns have focused on the RDA Toolkit's subscription model, interoperability with MARC 21, and the learning curve for catalogers at institutions such as university libraries and special collections like the Bodleian Libraries. Proponents cite improved support for linked data initiatives involving projects at the British Library and Library of Congress.

Related Standards and Tools

RDA is used alongside metadata schemas and tools such as MARC 21, BIBFRAME, Dublin Core, Encoded Archival Description, and authority files like the Library of Congress Subject Headings and Virtual International Authority File. Implementation tooling and services include the RDA Toolkit platform, cataloging utilities provided by OCLC WorldCat, and metadata crosswalks developed by national bibliographic agencies and projects such as Europeana and Digital Public Library of America.

Category:Library cataloging