Practical Cataloguing: AACR2, RDA and Marc 21

by Anne Welsh, Sue Batley

This essential new textbook provides cataloguers with the skills needed for transition to Resource Description and Access (RDA). The book builds on John Bowman's highly regarded Essential Cataloguing and gives an introduction to Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), which provides the conceptual basis for RDA; discusses the differences between AACR2 and RDA; and shows the current state of play in MARC 21. Key topics are: introduction to catalogues and cataloguing standards the FRBRization of the catalogue bibliographic elements access points and headings RDA: the new standard, its development, structure and features AACR and RDA: the similarities and differences between the two standards the MARC21 record bringing it all together the birth of RDA and the death of MARC. The final chapter includes ten records displayed in AACR2 level 1, AACR2 level 2, RDA and MARC 21, making it easy to see the differences at a glance. There is also a fully explained worked example based on RDA Appendix M. Readership: Written at a time of transition in international cataloguing, this book provides cataloguers and students with a background in general cataloguing principles, the current code (AACR2) and format (MARC 21) and the new standard (RDA). The contextual chapters provide library managers with an up-to-date overview of the development of RDA in order to equip them to make the transition. The book will be essential reading for students of library and information studies and practising library and information professionals in all sectors. It will also be of great interest to the archives sector.

Genres: Nonfiction, College, Professional Development, Library Science

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2010

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a well meaning, but poorly timed, introduction to the cataloging standards, AACR2 and RDA, as well as to MARC21, the coding standard. The authors are Anne Welsh, a lecturer in the Department of Information Studies at the University College London (on Twitter @AnneWelsh, blog http://annewelsh.wordpress.com/), and Sue Batley, Senior Lecturer in Information Management at London Metropolitan University.

The topics covered in the book include: FRBR, the bibliographic elements in a record, access points and headings, AACR, RDA, MARC21 and examples. All prose is written with a certain clarity that is lacking in the standards themselves; nevertheless, the book does not match the level of detail that is included in such works as Maxwell’s Handbook for AACR2. In addition, the section on RDA is woefully behind and lacks information on the new MARC21 fields created to accommodate RDA such as 336, 337, and 338. These kinds of lacunae are serious when there is so much more up-to-date information online.

It is clear from the preface that the authors were aware of the book’s limitations claiming that it was not a workbook for either standard, but that it was meant to highlight the most common issues. I wonder whether the audiences they do mention (brand new catalogers, those in charge of cataloging policy) would be well served by the book for the above mention reasons. At the same time the chapter on FRBR was interesting with its discussion of name authority files and the ISNI initiative. Perhaps one audience for this book would be reference librarians who would be well served by its introductory nature.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for work as I do all the library's cataloguing as well as training cataloguing volunteers. The books said it would be good for experienced cataloguers and outline the changes to RDA. However, this wasn't really the case. The book would be a good introduction to library students who had no experience cataloguing. It had very basic introductions to cataloguing, going over the requirements of the current systems and introducing the new changes. I can say having read this I have a clearer understanding of what the changes are. At least what they seem to be, not using abbreviations and copying more directly from the text (as is done in rare books cataloguing). The most useful part should have been the examples at the back which list library catalogue records in all the different standards. However, lack of proof-reading shows that there were mistakes in the samples which is confusing and disappointing. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone whose actually been doing cataloguing before but as an introduction for library students it's ok.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable and practical, this book helps catalogers transition from AACR2 to RDA. The authors offer many tips for global editing of MARC records and highlight differences in the cataloging codes, providing numerous examples of MARC fields and catalog records. Unfortunately, the book is already outdated, as RDA has kept changing since the book's publication.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This generally isn't the sort book one reads for leisure, I read it to learn more about cataloguing for my job.

Anne Welsh explains the various cataloguing methods and their history very clearly and I learned a lot reading it and MARC records with their various numbers make actual sense! Yay!

With a general lack of practical cataloguing in library courses these days, I can recommend this book, or at least one like it since it's a bit out of date now.

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably useful for early career catalogers who did not get practical or classroom experience with cataloging in their MLIS program. Some good explanations of the theory behind RDA and FRBR but the practical advice is lacking and somewhat dated by 2019 standards.

[lara phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't realize this book was published before RDA implementation was a done deal. The situation then was a little too transitional for this book to be of much use now, but it you want a history of the Joint Steering Committee that gave us RDA, you'll love this book!

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not stressing that much RDA, I liked the approach to much of this book. The "practical" in the title is true. Much of the information serves as a good primer to various fields in a cataloging record and some of the changes coming with RDA.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridging the gap between the old AACR and the new, RDA.

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Succeeds in simplifying and demystifying the principles of FRBR and RDA as they relate to practical current-day cataloguing, whether you have, or have not, been keeping up with these changes.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book that is both easy to read and informative.