National libraries join forces on bibliographic standard
22 October 2007
Four national libraries have joined forces to implement a new bibliographic standard for describing and accessing library resources that is designed for the digital environment in which libraries now operate.
The British Library, the National Library of Australia, the Library of Congress and Library and Archives Canada have agreed on the coordinated implementation of RDA: Resource Description and Access, the successor to the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules.
These national libraries, together with representatives from professional library associations in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, are represented on the Committee of Principals which oversees the work of the Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA, the group responsible for developing the guidelines.
"We welcome the move to RDA. The guidelines will be easy to use and the functionality that the RDA web product will provide will make the cataloguing process more efficient," said Caroline Brazier, Head of Resource Discovery at the British Library.
RDA addresses the needs of the future by providing a flexible framework for describing all types of resources of interest to libraries.
The guidelines will be compatible with internationally established principles, models and standards. In addition, RDA will maintain continuity with the past, as data created using RDA will be compatible with existing records in online library catalogues.
The libraries plan to implement RDA by the end of 2009. To ensure a smooth transition, the four national libraries will work together where possible on implementation matters such as training, documentation and any national application decisions. Regular updates will be issued by the group to keep the library communities in their countries informed on RDA implementation progress and policy decisions.
For further information please contact Lawrence Christensen in the British Library Press Office on 020 7412 7114 or email Lawrence.Christensen@bl.uk
Notes for editors
The British Library is the national Library of the United Kingdom. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library’s website at http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/quickinfo/web/index.html