I've tried to keep out of this, as I can see that RDA might not totally mess up what generations of skilled catalogers have already built (especially if implementation is optional). But when painstakingly researched and created NARs are in danger of being plunged into confusion, I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I often wonder if the people who are thinking up new "simpler" ways to do things really understand the philosophy, purpose, complexity, and vast utility of the existing system. I've been in the business long enough to be a curmudgeon, and have spent more years than I like to remember cleaning up messes that people had made by implementing "easier, simpler" systems, and putting things back to logical, orderly, standardized, searchable data.
Nancy Hill
Asst Library Director for Technical Svcs
University of Texas at El Paso Library
500 W. University, El Paso, TX 79968
915-747-6722
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"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them." Mark Twain
-----Original Message-----
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 9:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] Using existing NARs
Steven,
It is not a hybrid record, but rather a new version of an existing NAF
established name. This certainly already caused confusion in our library.
The problem is even more compounded because copy cataloging of LC, PCC
records is handled by processing assistants who do not correct records
accepting them as they are. Going along the line of recent cataloging
reasoning that our cataloging should be simplified and more efficient, it
seems to me that RDA debacle is taking us into another direction. RDA is
actually making our cataloging more complex, complicated and confusing.
Personally, I think that at any time if you have to devise a special
language to explain what you mean, it basically spells trouble.
Thank you.
Wojciech Siemaszkiewicz
New York Public Library
Library Services Center
31-11 Thompson Ave.
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
(917) 229-9603
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Re: Using existing NARs
Arakawa, Steven
to:
PCCLIST
10/29/2010 11:30 AM
Sent by:
Program for Cooperative Cataloging <[log in to unmask]>
Please respond to Program for Cooperative Cataloging
I don't like the idea of adding hybrid AACR2/RDA records to the database,
especially with OCLC's policy of "RDA or AACR2 but not both." I don't think
it's that difficult to train copy catalogers to identify an RDA record--any
record with 336-338 should stick out like a sore thumb. Once the record is
so identified, the library has the option of changing the headings to AACR2
in its local database. But please, not at the national level.
Steven Arakawa
Catalog Librarian for Training & Documentation
Catalog & Metadata Services, SML, Yale University
P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520-8240
(203)432-8286 [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Deborah Tomaras
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 10:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Using existing NARs
Judy:
Thanks for your reply. It would seem to me more prudent, since this is a
production-mode OCLC test, to always use existing AACR2 headings if they
are found (adding the 70014 for RDA in the authority record for future
potential usage), and only use RDA headings in bibliographic records (and
create them in the authority file) if there are none already existent. This
would eliminate conflict problems, and still allow the formulation of RDA
authorities, when existing authorities don't exist. Would the Coordinating
Committee consider this option, to save us all maintenance headaches down
the line? Automated authority flipping isn't foolproof, and local database
maintenance staff are already quite busy.
If this option is not acceptable, could RDA test records at least be coded
with lower ELvls (K, for example), so that they are not automatically
accepted by copy cataloging units, and are researched/fixed as needed by
librarians?
Thanks again for your time.
Deborah Tomaras
From: "Kuhagen, Judith" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>,
"[log in to unmask]"
<[log in to unmask]>, "[log in to unmask]"
<[log in to unmask]>
Cc: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>,
"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>,
"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>, "[log in to unmask]"
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: 10/29/2010 10:07 AM
Subject: RE: Using existing NARs
Dear Deborah,
The Coordinating Committee for the US RDA Test understands the
discrepancies these actions will cause; the impact was discussed with Glenn
Patton and others at OCLC and with the PCC Steering Committee. Having a
test with 26 participating libraries and groups in a production mode (a
test mode for all wasn't feasible) obviously affects libraries not involved
in the US RDA Test. Policy documents were posted and shared widely so that
non-participants would be aware of the effect on their own processes,
records, etc.
Database maintenance is being deferred until there is a decision on
implementation. Otherwise, records would need to be modified again if RDA
is not implemented.
I will forward your message to the Coordinating Committee.
Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 9:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Kuhagen, Judith
Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask];
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Using existing NARs
Ms. Kuhagen and others:
I haven't seen any discussion about the wisdom of using RDA forms of names
in bibliographic records, when there is an already established AACR2
authority record. It seems to me that this would cause tremendous
international problems in all existing library databases.
If a record is coded PCC or has ELvl blank/4/I, copy cataloging units would
accept this record as is, assuming all authority work to be done, thus
creating errors in the catalog. And all libraries in the future, whether or
not they personally create RDA records, would likely use RDA records into
their databases when created by others, increasing authority discrepancies
in their catalogs.
For example, in OCLC #670738890 (coded ELvl blank and 042 PCC), Antoni
Gasiorowski, who has an authority record without a date, is instead entered
in an unauthorized form with a date, and left uncontrolled as if there is
no heading already existing in the authority file. Locally, this would have
been accepted by our copy cataloging unit without checking headings,
leading to a conflict with our already existing records with the
authorized/undated form.
I have always assumed that our primary mission, as cataloging librarians,
is to create a coherent, efficient and correct catalog for users to locate
information in. If we undermine authority control, as is being done in this
RDA test, we are compromising one of cataloging's great strengths, what we
point to when asserting that library catalogs are "better than Google" for
searching and retrieval.
Deborah Tomaras
Librarian II
Western European Languages Team
New York Public Library
Library Services Center
31-11 Thomson Ave.
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
(917) 229-9561
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