, AIS3711 ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE 30 APRIL 2024
QUESTION 1 (25 MARKS)
1.1. Discuss the Resource Description Access (RDA) concept and list the
frameworks used in its development
Resource Description and Access (RDA) is a set of cataloguing guidelines and instructions for
describing and providing access to library resources. It was developed to replace the Anglo-American
Cataloging Rules (AACR2) and aims to provide better access to digital resources and non-print
materials. RDA is designed to be compatible with the Semantic Web, allowing for better integration
of library data with the wider web environment.
The development of RDA was a collaborative effort by the Joint Steering Committee for
Development of RDA, which included the American Library Association, the Canadian Library
Association, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and the Australian
Committee on Cataloguing, among others. The RDA development process also involved input and
feedback from the international library community, ensuring that the guidelines were relevant and
useful on a global scale.
The frameworks used in the development of RDA include the Functional Requirements for
Bibliographic Records (FRBR), the Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD), and the
Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD). These conceptual models helped to
inform the structure and content of RDA, ensuring that it aligns with current thinking on
bibliographic description and access.
Reference:
"Resource Description and Access (RDA)." American Library Association. https://www.rda-
jsc.org/rda.html.
1.2. Differentiate between RDA and Anglo American Cataloguing Rules-2.
Provide examples in your discussions. (18)
The Resource Description and Access (RDA) and Anglo American Cataloguing Rules-2 (AACR2) are
standards that are used for cataloging and describing library resources. While both standards serve
the same purpose, there are some key differences between the two.
RDA is a set of guidelines for describing and providing access points to library resources. It is based
on the principles of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and is
designed to be more flexible and adaptable to the digital environment. RDA focuses on identifying
the relationships between resources and providing context for the user.
On the other hand, AACR2 is a set of rules for creating bibliographic records. It was developed by the
American Library Association, the Library of Congress, and the Canadian Library Association, and it
focuses on providing standardized access points for library materials. AACR2 is more prescriptive and
is based on the principle of "cataloging in the card" which means that it is based on the physical
characteristics of the resource.
An example of how RDA and AACR2 differ can be seen in the treatment of non-book materials. In
RDA, non-book materials are given more equal treatment alongside traditional print resources. For
QUESTION 1 (25 MARKS)
1.1. Discuss the Resource Description Access (RDA) concept and list the
frameworks used in its development
Resource Description and Access (RDA) is a set of cataloguing guidelines and instructions for
describing and providing access to library resources. It was developed to replace the Anglo-American
Cataloging Rules (AACR2) and aims to provide better access to digital resources and non-print
materials. RDA is designed to be compatible with the Semantic Web, allowing for better integration
of library data with the wider web environment.
The development of RDA was a collaborative effort by the Joint Steering Committee for
Development of RDA, which included the American Library Association, the Canadian Library
Association, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and the Australian
Committee on Cataloguing, among others. The RDA development process also involved input and
feedback from the international library community, ensuring that the guidelines were relevant and
useful on a global scale.
The frameworks used in the development of RDA include the Functional Requirements for
Bibliographic Records (FRBR), the Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD), and the
Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD). These conceptual models helped to
inform the structure and content of RDA, ensuring that it aligns with current thinking on
bibliographic description and access.
Reference:
"Resource Description and Access (RDA)." American Library Association. https://www.rda-
jsc.org/rda.html.
1.2. Differentiate between RDA and Anglo American Cataloguing Rules-2.
Provide examples in your discussions. (18)
The Resource Description and Access (RDA) and Anglo American Cataloguing Rules-2 (AACR2) are
standards that are used for cataloging and describing library resources. While both standards serve
the same purpose, there are some key differences between the two.
RDA is a set of guidelines for describing and providing access points to library resources. It is based
on the principles of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and is
designed to be more flexible and adaptable to the digital environment. RDA focuses on identifying
the relationships between resources and providing context for the user.
On the other hand, AACR2 is a set of rules for creating bibliographic records. It was developed by the
American Library Association, the Library of Congress, and the Canadian Library Association, and it
focuses on providing standardized access points for library materials. AACR2 is more prescriptive and
is based on the principle of "cataloging in the card" which means that it is based on the physical
characteristics of the resource.
An example of how RDA and AACR2 differ can be seen in the treatment of non-book materials. In
RDA, non-book materials are given more equal treatment alongside traditional print resources. For
