Resource Description and Access (RDA) in Australia
This website contains current information regarding the implementation of RDA in Australia as well as the development and implementation of RDA worldwide. The site is updated regularly and any progress towards implementation in Australia will be notified through this site and through the Australian discussion list on RDA
- Access to RDA
- Implementation of RDA

- Australian discussion list on RDA
- FAQs for Australian Libraries

- RDA and Systems
- Proposals for revision of RDA

- Training for RDA
- Training courses and seminars
- Training materials for RDA
- Key presentations on RDA
- Other resources
What's new
Bibliographic Framework Transition Initiative
The Library of Congress has released the initial plan for its Bibliographic Framework Transition Initiative, which includes seeking a replacement for MARC.
The plan is available at:
http://www.loc.gov/marc/transition/news/framework-103111.html
New US website for RDA
The Policy and Standards Division, part of the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate at the Library of Congress, is launching a new website as the Library prepares for RDA. The site is located at: http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/. There are links to training documents, presentations, exercises, and examples of records as well as to other RDA related sites. Many more links will be added as items are created, edited, and updated as preparations for RDA proceed. The page originally created for LC documentation related to the US RDA Test will no longer be maintained. Links from that site will be migrated to the new site over time as appropriate.
Progress on US RDA Test Recommendations
The Joint Steering Committee for the Development of RDA (JSC) have released a document summarising their progress on recommendations in the US Test report that were specifically directed to them. The document contains a link to a table which sets out the JSC Plan for responding to the US RDA Test JSC Recommendations. It is available on the JSC website.
The RDA Co-Publishers have also released a statement regarding the project to reword RDA, and the role of the copy editor in this effort. This statement is available on the RDA Toolkit Website
Background
The Joint Steering Committee for the Development of RDA (JSC) has developed a replacement for AACR called RDA: Resource Description and Access. Further background information on the development of RDA is available at the JSC site. ACOC is represented on the JSC and is a joint author of RDA.
The RDA project is overseen by the Committee of Principals representing the American Library Association, the Canadian Library Association, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, the Library of Congress, Library and Archives Canada, the British Library, and the National Library of Australia.
What is RDA?
RDA is an important building block in the creation of better catalogues and resource discovery systems. It provides for the creation of metadata which meets users' needs for data content and also facilitates machine manipulation of that data for searching and display.
RDA focuses on the data elements needed to meet the user tasks specified in the FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) and FRAD (Functional Requirements for Authority Records) conceptual models. The use of FRBR concepts allows the relationships between multiple versions of a resource to be presented to users in a meaningful way.
Implementation of RDA
RDA was released at the end of June 2010 and underwent useability and feasibility testing as part of the US National Libraries RDA Test in late 2010. In June 2011, the Report and Recommendations of the U.S. RDA Test Coordinating Committee on the implementation of RDA - Resource Description & Access was released. The key recommendation coming out of the testing is that RDA be adopted with certain conditions and that implementation not occur before January 2013. For full details, see the US National Test website.
The national libraries of Britain, Canada and Australia, along with the Library of Congress, have re-confirmed their agreement of October 2007 to co-ordinate implementation, not sooner than early 2013. It is likely that the National Library of Australia will implement in the first quarter of 2013.
In September 2011, the Library of Congress launched a new website for information on their preparation for RDA including training, training documents, presentations, exercises, and examples of records as well as to other RDA related sites. Links from the page originally created for LC documentation related to the US RDA Test will be migrated to the new site over time as appropriate.
FAQs for Australian libraries
FAQs on RDA providing information from an Australian library perspective can be viewed here.
Training for RDA
Training Needs Survey Results
During March/April 2010 ACOC conducted a survey to gain a better understanding of needs and preferences with regard to RDA training in Australia. Thanks to the generous comments of all those who participated we now have a much clearer understanding of the needs and concerns. The full survey results as well as ACOC responses to the issues it raised can be viewed here: survey results for Australia
A similar survey was also conducted in New Zealand. The results of that survey are available at http://nznuc-cataloguing.pbworks.com/RDA-page (click on the link: RDA Training Needs Survey Results)
Training for Australia
The information provided in the training needs survey indicates that a variety of individuals and training agencies, along with a number of library educators, are interested in providing training to the Australian Library community. Some state libraries will also play a role in providing training.
In conjunction with ALIA, the Australian Committee on Cataloguing will seek expressions of interest from those organisations and individuals interested in providing RDA training within Australia. The request for expressions of interest will be sent out well in advance of the planned implementation date for RDA.
Selected trainers will receive “Train the trainer” training from National Library of Australia staff, and go on to offer training courses Australia wide. RDA trainers will provide comprehensive face to face training courses tailored to the needs of cataloguers, along with shorter training courses tailored for particular audiences. They may also deliver online training.
Other than “Train the trainer” training and training its own staff, the National Library of Australia will not have a role in providing face to face training to the Australian library community. However, all of the documentation created by the National Library of Australia for the “Train the trainer” training or for its own staff will be made freely available on the ACOC website. They will also provide selected reading lists and online training modules on selected topics and targeted information packages about RDA.
Training Courses and Seminars
A list of Australian training courses and seminars relating to RDA can be viewed here. Details of courses will be added as they become available closer to implementation.
To add your course to the list please contact nlarda@nla.gov.au
Training Materials
The National Library of Australia is preparing a range of online training materials that will be freely available to the Australian library community. These materials can be used by individuals or institutions for information, background or for use in training.
A list of Australian and international training resources available for open use can be viewed here. This list will be updated as new materials are available.
To advise us of any other useful training resources please contact nlarda@nla.gov.au
Communication, discussion, questions and feedback
Keep up to date with RDA by checking this site. Look out for regular information about RDA in InCite, and rdaaust. Libraries Australia sources, such as the Libraries Australia newsletter will also provide updates to members.
Australian Discussion List on RDA
The National Library of Australia has established an email list for discussion of RDA as it relates specifically to Australian libraries, including implementation and training matters. The rdaaust list will be used as the main tool for directly updating Australian libraries about RDA. It is also a useful forum for the library community, a place where libraries can discuss RDA implementation, share information and raise issues.
To subscribe to the list send a message to: sympa@nla.gov.au
In the subject line of your message, type in: subscribe rdaaust Firstname Name (replace Firstname Name with your own first name and last name).
For example: subscribe rdaaust Mary Smith
Leave the message body blank
You should then receive a welcome message with details of how to post messages to the list etc.
Email questions
For questions, comments or to share resources contact the National Library of Australia’s RDA Implementation Team directly at nlarda@nla.gov.au
Key presentations and articles on RDA
Ahead to RDA Webinar Series presented by ALCTS.
Cataloguers, librarians and staff, department heads who will be planning RDA implementation, and library directors who need to understand the benefits and importance of implementing RDA should reserve an hour for an ALCTS webinar.
Past webinars in the series include: RDA for administrators ; RDA: Benefits for Users and Cataloguers ; An active learning approach to teaching FRBR ; FRBR as a foundation for RDA ; RDA and Serials Catalogers.
More webinars being planned.
Changes from AACR2 to RDA: A comparison of examples
Adam L. Schiff
Originally presented BC Library Conference April 2010, revised May 2011
RDA : Resource Description and Access presentation
Deirdre Kiorgaard
RDA information session for QUT students, August 31, 2010
Archive of older presentations
Selected earlier presentations on RDA can be viewed here.
Other resources
Web resources
Library of Congress RDA homepage
Contains
links to training documents, presentations, exercises, and examples of records as well as to other RDA related sites. This site will be updated as preparations for RDA proceed. The page originally created for LC documentation related to the US RDA Test will no longer be maintained. Links from that site will be migrated to the new site over time as appropriate.
RDA Test Record Downloads
Test records submitted by those institutions involved as formal and informal test participants of the US RDA Test
OCLC’s RDA resources page
Contains links to RDA-related resources from OCLC
RDA testing at the University of Chicago
A US RDA test participant, the University of Chicago site includes cataloguing resources, examples of RDA records in a variety of formats and notes on the experience of implementing RDA for the test.
Print resources
Describing Electronic, Digital and other Media using AACR and RDA : A how-to-do-it manual / Mary Beth Weber and Fay A Austin
ISBN: 978-1-85604-684-8
Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics / Chris Oliver
ISBN 978-0-8389-3594-1
Library Technology Reports, Understanding the Semantic Web and RDA Vocabularies
Two-Issue Set By Karen Coyle (Library Technology Reports, January 2010 (46:1), 31 pages and Library Technology Reports, February/March 2010 (46:2), 39 pages) available from http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2909
The RDA primer : a guide for the occasional cataloguer / Amy Hart
ISBN 978-1-58683-348-0


