Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics (ALA Editions) 1st Edition

Christine Oliver, coordinator of cataloguing and authorities at McGill University Libraries, is one of the most competent librarians in the world to discuss RDA and author such a primer.The audience for this book is practicing cataloguers familiar with AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd edition) practices who want to prepare themselves for RDA and probably have not been in library school for ten years or more. Oliver does an excellent job of distilling the FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) theoretical model into practical terms.Additionally Oliver points out how much of the language in RDA is similar to or exactly the same as AACR2 and points out where language has been altered and drastically changed to fit the FRBR model. This makes it very useful for those acquainted with AACR2, but may be less useful for those with no AAACR2 experience.This book is very skinny, so it is a quick and easy read. I don't quite understand a previous review suggesting that the text is overly wordy. (And to reply to another comment, no textbook author is paid by the word! Far from it and certainly not by CLA and ALA.)The one drawback is that Oliver had to write this book using the draft language of RDA and probably had early access to the initial release in June 2010. However, the text is written in such a way that it would take major changes to the text of RDA before this book could become obsolete.

I am teaching RDA for the first time this semester. I was looking at the book as much to study the way in presents RDA as to learn about RDA itself.The book is oriented primarily to those who are already familiar with AACR2, which my students are not. So it did not serve the purpose for which I bought it.Also, I had to write to LC for an explanation of RDA's unprecedented inclusion of cross-references in the term "access point." The book did not explain THAT.

I am only half way through it as I am trying to remember as much as possible. It is so hard to switch from AACR2 after so many years this is very helpful.

This book was very helpful with an understanding of what RDA is. Easy to read and understand, so was ready for the introduction of this into our library management system. Would recommend this to people who are going to use RDA.

Wow. Talk about one being verbose. He takes simple, common sense concepts and makes them convoluted. I really wonder if it is his perception of self-worth/importance on display. Too much trying to show how clever he is instead of trying to simply describe RDA. Perhaps this was the chance to show off to the Library crowd or to mystify the simple so only a few will be in the know and others will come seeking their great, hidden pearls.Whatever- He uses pages to explain what should be reduced to sentences. In school, I was taught that if you really knew your subject, you could explain it succinctly or perhaps you just like to hear yourself talk and/or read your writing.No wonder this has been years in the development with multiple committees (ever see all the names on the RDA print document). Everybody wants to be a star. Perhaps we should do what RDA was supposed to be. A simple rendering of facts and nothing more complicated. People are supposed to make communication of ideas simple for understanding. I guess that is why writers write and these librarians class them. The Seven Laws of the Learner: How to Teach Almost Anything to Practically Anyone Let's exhume Melvill Dewey and force him to rethink the ALA.Wow.

loveit

Was overloaded with information but a bit dry.

I have catalogued in my past and I can put up with a good deal of pedantic goings on. This about tops the list of why cataloguers have such a bad rep. I am half way through the book and have passed the sludge of RDA history (did I need to know this in a thin book on introducting RDA. I think not). I wonder if I should push forward.I can understand why very few MLIS students are turning to cataloguing if this is their introduction to the field.

recebido em boas condições

I would recommend this guide to all those working in school libraries to ready themselves for the transition to RDA. Written in a way that is easy to understand.

目録情報作成規則の国際標準である英米目録規則（AACR2）が、デジタル情報源の出現によって、これらに合った規則改訂を準備したが、AACR3という改訂作業では対応が不可能で、RDAという新しい枠組みとして出発する。その概念的全容を解説する入門書。今後図書館や情報センターの目録は、デジタル資料が増えることで、AACRの世界からは遠くなりがちであるが、物理的世界を持つ３次元物体の世界はさほど変るわけではない。　デジタルもアナログも共有する著作＋著者など基本概念のデジタル対応概念モデル（FRBR, FRAD, FRSAD）とそれらの実装のための精緻化モデルが整備され、アナログ世界とのインターフェイスが可能になったと考えるべきである。この観点から、本書は手際の良い説明を与えており、全体像を知る格好の入門書である。　アナログ時代の説明書と異なり、具象的な事例は少ない。それはAACR2との連携は活きており、今回の規則改訂で重視されるのは典拠情報であり、その標準化が前提で整備されつつある先進国の典拠ファイルの標準化と共有は、先進国ドイツなどでは終わりつつある。そうした動向までの言及はないが、全容を手際よく理解できるA4サイズの概説本。