Presentation given at the ALA Annual 2013 ALCTS Continuing Resources Cataloging Committee Update Forum. It highlights and summarizes the changes and impact of RDA on serials cataloging, but isn't meant as primary training materials.

1. Impact of RDA on Serials Cataloging
Shana L. McDanold
ALA Annual 2013, Chicago, IL

2. RDA Key points
 RDA is fundamentally different in it's approach to
describing materials/resources/things
 Focus on content *first* and carrier/format second
 RDA cultivates relationships
 “Guidelines and instructions” rather than rules
 Cataloger’s judgment
 MARC record contains a mix of Group 1 WEMI
attributes as well as Group 2 and Group 3 entities.
 MARC record: mix of work, expression, and manifestation
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3. Change highlights: general
 Vocabulary changes
 New MARC fields and subfields
 Transcription – record what’s there!
 Capitalization = RDA Appendix A
 Source(s) – more flexible
 Relationships for authorized access points
 Required for the creator
 RDA Appendix I
 Guidelines:
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/rda/PCC%20RDA%20guidelines/Relat-Desig-
Guidelines.docx
 Rule of three – gone!
 Be liberal in recording alternate titles
 Related works are no longer in a general note field, but rather traced
so they can be linked
 GMD replaced by 336 (content type), 337 (media type), 338 (carrier
type)
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4. Change highlights: general
 Spelling out of abbreviations (RDA Appendix B)
 p.  pages
 ill.  illustrations
 cm is not an abbreviation, it is a symbol, like ©
 Latin terms no longer used
 [S.l. : s.n.]  [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not
identified]
 [et al.]  [and # others]
 [sic]  245 has title as appears on piece; 246 contains
corrected form of title
 Adjacent bracketed elements are bracketed separately
 Supplied information (e.g. not from piece in hand) is
enclosed in square brackets
 EXCEPTION: Devised titles for serials (RDA 2.3.2.10)
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5. Change highlights: serials
 300 field is core for currently published, tangible non-print
formats
 Carrier type changes (338)
 RDA 3.1.6.1: Create a new description if there is a change in
the carrier type of a serial to online resource from another
computer carrier, or vice versa
 Transcription exceptions:
 Omit numbering from title proper or parallel title (use mark of omission
wherever in title)
 Some alternatives allow some conversions and some omissions for some
elements
 No more manifestation level differentiation
 [Reminder]: ISSN key title (222) is at manifestation level, NOT
work or expression title, so key title and authorized access
point for the work may not match
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6. Change highlights: new description
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7. Hybrid records
 Guidelines available on LC website
 RDA records:
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/rda/PCC%20RDA%20guidelin
es/Serial-RDA.doc
 Pre-RDA records:
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/rda/PCC%20RDA%20guidelin
es/Hybrid-Guidelines-Serials-Post-Impl.docx
 Remember:
 Goal: enhancing the record to improve user access (user
tasks: find, identify, select, and obtain)
 DO NO HARM: If it's not wrong, leave it alone
 Be nice: avoid editing just for style
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8. Ongoing issues
 Reproductions
 Title changes for multiple carriers (print vs online vs
microform)
 Keep title changes in sync across carriers?
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9. QUESTIONS?
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10. Acknowledgements
 Slide content credits:
 Library of Congress
 Barbara Tillett, Judy Kuhagen, the staff of the Cataloging &
Acquisitions Cooperative and Instructional Programs Division
 Joint Steering Committee for the Development of RDA
 And many more who have contributed bits and pieces
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