RDA and Rare Books Cataloging, Part 1

Catalogers using Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials: Books (DCRM(B)) were challenged when the Library of Congress (LC) adopted Resource Description and Access (RDA). DCRM(B) is based on AACR2, which is organized according to International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) areas. RDA is based on FRBR. As of this writing, the RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee intends to finish an initial version of RBMS Policy Statements for the RDA Toolkit. During the interim, the Bibliographic Standards Committee website states: “The Bibliographic Standards Committee is neutral regarding RDA, neither encouraging nor discouraging agencies regarding implementation of RDA-acceptable DCRM records.” The Committee provides rare book catalogers with two options. The first instructs catalogers to form descriptive portions of records according to DCRM(B) and AACR2, using RDA for access points. The second option directs catalogers to create RDA records using the PCC-RDA BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) that includes rare materials provisions. This paper discusses the creation process of three catalog records for the same rare book developed according to DCRM(B), the PCC-RDA-BSR with rare materials provisions and RDA with exceptions for early printed resources.