Using Freely Available RDA Resources to Provide In-House Training to a Medium-Sized Academic Library

Abstract

Recent surveys have indicated that training available for the new cataloging standard, Resource Description and Access (RDA), has been slow to reach many academic institutions, particularly small- and medium-sized libraries. These surveys have shown that smaller institutions have reported being particularly behind in transitioning to RDA due to lack of training and also indicate that in-house training, while preferred by a large population of catalogers and metadata specialists, is typically not available due to constraints on staffing, cost, and time. By discussing a case study of in-house RDA training provided at Oakland University, this paper addresses RDA training needs in small- to medium-sized academic institutions and the potential to provide the personalized, in-person training desired by the professional community. Training was offered in a hybrid online and in-person environment to the entire library faculty and staff for a 6-week period, resulting in the transition to RDA shortly after the official Library of Congress adoption date of March 31, 2013.