The document summarizes the key changes between cataloging standards AACR2 and RDA, including changes in terminology, elements, and fields. Some of the major changes include using "creator" instead of "author", adding new fields like 336, 337, 338 for content, media, and carrier type, transcribing titles and statements of responsibility as found rather than abbreviating, and providing square brackets for cataloger-supplied information. RDA also simplifies elements like publishers and places of publication.

1. From AACR2 to RDA: changes to
the Bib record
By Peachy Limpin

2. Changes in Terminology
AACR2
• Heading
• Author, composer, etc
• Main entry
• GMD
• Physical description
RDA
• Authorized access point –
author, creator or
composer
• Creator
• Preferred title &
authorized access point
for creator
• Media type, Carrier type,
Content type
• Carrier description

3. Recognizing RDA records
• Differences in fixed fields
From a (AACR2) to i (ISBD)

4. • 040 Tag with subfield $erda
• Lack of familiar abbreviations (p., ill., et al.)
• New 3xx fields (336, 337, 338)

5. Lack of Familiar Abbreviations (RDA
3.4 and Appendix B.1)
• No more abbreviations in the physical
description (in RDA this is referred to as extent
of item). However, dimensions are still in “cm.”
or “in.”
• For “ca.” use “approximately”

6. Statement of Responsibility
• Principle of “Take what you see and accept
what you get” is applied that includes typos,
abbreviations, and capitalizations.
• No more “Rule of Three” (RDA 19.2.1.3)
– First author is entered in the 100 field and
additional authors are placed in the 700 field.
– Or additional authors replaced by the phrase
“[and x others]”, where x is the number of
additional authors.
• No more [et al.]

7. Title Information
• Transcribe title as it appears on the source of
information (RDA 2.3.1.4)
• That means no longer using $b in the 245 field
except for parallel titles
• There are no restrictions on sources for parallel
titles. They can be taken from any source within
the resource.
• If there is more than one parallel title, cataloguer
can decide whether to transcribe all and which
and how many 246 fields to make.

8. Relationship Designators
• Indicates relationship between a resource and
a person, family or corporate body
• Entered as $e of the 100 and 700 fields
• Designators for persons, families and
corporate bodies associated with a work:
author, artist, compiler, photographer,
director, issuing body, producer (RDA
Appendix I)

9. Relationship Designators
• Designators associated with an expression –
illustrator, editor, translator, writer of added
commentary, etc. (RDA 20.2)
• Designators associated with a manifestation –
publisher, distributor, manufacturer (RDA 21.1)

10. Additional RDA elements
• Capitalization
RDA provides an option to record capitalization as
found on the resource. Use of upper or lower case
letters does not affect searching and retrieval.
• Square brackets
Used only for cataloguer-supplied information

11. Edition Statement
• Transcribe as found, do not abbreviate or
convert to numerals.
• Statement of responsibility relating to editions
is optional in RDA

12. Place of Publication
• Only one place of publication is required. If
none is provided on the resources, look for
place of distribution/manufacture
information.
• If there is nothing found, supply a probable
place of publication in square brackets.
• If a probable place of publication cannot be
ascertained, put [Place of publication not
identified] no longer [S.l.] for sine loco.

13. Publisher
• Only the first recorded publisher is required
and names are not abbreviated and are
recorded as found.
• If no publisher is provided, put [Publisher not
identified] instead of [S.n.] for sine nomine.
*In RDA, each subfield of place of publication
and publisher is enclosed in its own square
brackets.

14. Publication date
• If there is no date on the resource, supply a
probable date in square brackets. If a probable
date cannot be ascertained, put [Date of
publication not identified] instead of [n.d.]

15. Copyright date
“A copyright date is a core element if neither the
date of publication nor the date of distribution is
identified” (RDA 2.11)
• If publication date differs from the copyright
date, copyright date is placed in 264 field,
indicator #4 $c© symbol or its spelled out
version.
• If there are multiple copyright dates, record the
latest one.
*Keyboard shortcut for © is Alt+0+1+6+9

16. Extent of Item
Sample of extent of item for ebook
Refer to RDA 3.19 for describing digital files

17. New 3xx Fields
• Replaces GMD (general material designator) in
subfield ($) h of 245 field (Title)
• Repeatable
• Subfield ($) 2 for vocabulary used:
336 $2rdacontent
337 $2rdamedia
338 $2rdacarrier

18. Terms used for Books
336 text$btxt$2rdacontent
337 unmediated$bn$2rdamedia
338 volume$bnc$2rdacarrier

19. Other Content Types applicable for
WAI (Tag 336) (RDA 6.9.1.3)
• cartographic image
• still image
• two-dimensional moving image
• three dimensional form (Use for objects)
• spoken words (Use for readings, recitations,
speeches, interviews, oral histories, etc.)

20. Other Media Types applicable for WAI
(Tag 337) (RDA 3.2.1.3)
• audio
• computer
• video

21. Other Carrier Types applicable to WAI
(RDA 3.3.1.3)
• audio disc
• online resource
• computer disc (Use for CD-ROM)
• card
• flipchart
• object
• sheet (Use for menus)
• videodisc