 |
 |
To all Catalogers/Librarians: The RDA Coordinating Committee has refused to address concerns about RDA and the authority file. They have not altered the current test policy "Scenario 1/1b" (view it at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/RDAtest/admindoc1.doc) which allows ignoring of the authority file when constructing heading in bibliographic records, in favor of creating new RDA forms of names--often when names have perfectly acceptable AACR2 headings. Many individuals have expressed outrage over this policy, and the havoc that it plays in international authority control. Even the PCC Policy Committee, in its Nov. 4-5 annual meeting, shows concern over this policy, as expressed in its second action item: "2. After the test period ends in Dec. 2010, PCC members may continue to use the RDA testing guidelines from Jan. 2 until further notice, with the exception that already-established AACR2 heading forms should be used in bibliographic records. This decision will be reevaluated in April 2011." Further, the RDA Coordinating Committee has not addressed concerns about the future of the authority file: What is the purpose of the 7xx in authority records? Will all 1xxs be flipped automatically if/when RDA is adopted? If not, who decides which headings get flipped? How have the needs of small or cash-strapped agencies been taken into account, and how will their burden be eased if these changes go through? How can RDA testers/catalogers be discouraged from making useless changes to already acceptable headings (Elvis, Wagner, et al.) that will come back to haunt us later? Since neither of these questions were answered after I emailed the Coordinating Commitee personally (and they subsequently met and issued their statement of "clarification"), I am proposing the following mass action for catalogers who share my concerns. I ask that everyone individually email the Coordinating Committee, not at the generic "send your comments" email, but to their personal email addresses. If they have to wade through enough irate emails, perhaps they will take our concerns more seriously. I realize that this action would require people to reveal their identities and work emails to the Coordinating Committee, which might be intimidating. But I think only a critical mass of people can influence change at this time. The addresses of the Coordinating Committee are here: http://www.loc.gov/bibliographic-future/rda/committee.html. Just in case they take down the link, I'll also provide them here: [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], [log in to unmask] Below is the text I'll be sending--feel free to copy as much or little as you'd like into your individual emails. Please forward this around as much as possible, to maximize the amount of catalogers/librarians participating. Thanks in advance to everyone who participates! To the RDA Coordinating Committee: Given the grave concerns that many in the cataloging community share about RDA and its current and future implications for the authority file, and international authority control, we insist on answers to the following questions. We further insist that any answers given by the Coordinating Committee be posted publicly and distributed widely. And we insist that criticisms of current and future policy be taken seriously, and changes implemented, to minimize present and continuing damage to the authority file. 1. We disagree with the present test policy (Scenario 1/1b) which allows RDA testers to ignore authorized headings when creating access points in bibliographic records, in favor of creating and using RDA forms of names. In many cases, these new forms are used when the authorized names are perfectly acceptable according to RDA rules. This policy is allowing RDA testers to run amok in the authority file, making often merely cosmetic changes to headings like Elvis, Richard Wagner, and even such relative unknowns as Antoni Gąsiorowski, which will cause current recall problems, and future nightmares for database maintenance. Even the PCC Policy Committee, in its Nov. 4-5 annual meeting, shows concern over this policy, as expressed in its second action item: "2. After the test period ends in Dec. 2010, PCC members may continue to use the RDA testing guidelines from Jan. 2 until further notice, with the exception that already-established AACR2 heading forms should be used in bibliographic records. This decision will be reevaluated in April 2011." Why, if you acknowledge in test policy 1/1biii that this will cause problems internationally in authority verification (and also, unacknowledged, in user recall) don't you mandate that authorized headings be utilized unless there is a clear conflict with the RDA rule set? How will you alter test policies--as soon as possible--to discourage RDA testers/catalogers from making useless changes to already acceptable headings (Elvis, Wagner, et al.) that will come back to haunt us later? 2. We demand a public statement of intent pertaining to the 7xxs being created by RDA testers in authority records. What is the purpose of these? Will all 1xxs be flipped automatically to these 7xxs if/when RDA is adopted? If not, who decides which headings get flipped? How have the needs of small or cash-strapped agencies been taken into account, and how will their database maintenance burden be eased if these changes go through? 3. If RDA is not adopted, how do you propose to fix uncontrolled RDA forms of headings that exist in bibliographic records? This cannot be done automatically, but as long as the headings remain unaltered they will continue to create problems in name recall internationally. If RDA is to become a national cataloging standard, then criticism and input from catalogers using the standard must be addressed. We look forward to hearing your public answers to our questions, and to your serious consideration of our concerns and suggestions. Deborah Tomaras, NACO Coordinator 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 [log in to unmask] Disclaimer: Alas, my ideas are merely my own, and not indicative of New York Public Library policy.