The new RDA resource description in libraries and

The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond Gordon Dunsire, Chair, RSC Presented at “Resource description for the 21 st Century” 13 August 2018, Canberra, Australia 1 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

RDA “RDA is a package of data elements, guidelines, and instructions for creating library and cultural heritage resource metadata that are well-formed according to international models for user-focussed linked data applications. ” RDA Toolkit provides the user-focussed elements, guidelines, and instructions. RDA Registry provides the infrastructure for well-formed, linked, RDA data applications. The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond

RDA Registry Linked data representations of RDA Reference Entities (classes) Relationships and attributes (properties) Controlled terminologies (concepts) + Translations + Maps (e. g. to ISBD, MARC Relators, MARC 21) Open license (BY) 3 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Registry data in Toolkit 3 R Project Basic structure of all element “pages” generated from Registry Toolkit releases Element definition and scope Element reference Related elements Glossary Vocabulary encoding schemes Relationship matrix 4 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Impact of internationalization Different cataloguing practices Different authority files and vocabularies No “one way” of describing an entity Many ways, many choices New elements for access points 5 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Impact of other communities Special library materials New elements and vocabularies Archive and museum communities Collections, curation, provenance LRM is compatible with CIDOC CRM Linked data communities IRI recording method, vocabulary notation 6 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Entities WEMI = aspects of a “resource” (ISBD) Agent (PFC), Place, Timespan associated with an information resource Nomen associated with any other entity All entities and their elements given equal presentation But varying depth of coverage, relative to resource description 7 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Elements Unit of focus in new Toolkit e. g. “performer” has a “page” all to itself Standard structure and layout No distinction between attribute and relationship elements All elements assigned a single entity “domain” But attributes do not have a “range” of an entity And no inverse elements New entities more relationships more inverses Many more elements 8 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

The numbers 9 13 entities 1700+ elements Work Expression Manifestation Item Place Timespan RDA Entity 388 291 282 70 45 54 27 Agent Person Collective Agent Corporate Body Family Nomen The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond 175 85 34 84 46 169 September 14, 2021

Recording methods Extended to all elements Confined to relationships in original Toolkit Linked data “method” now explicit 4 methods = “ 4 -fold path” Unstructured description Structured description Identifier IRI 10 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Instructions There are no rules! Most instructions are now optional Accommodates local practice in a global framework Instructions assigned to recording methods Much more choice Flexibility How to choose? 11 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Application profile What elements must be recorded? What elements should be recorded? What elements may be repeated? What vocabularies are used? What recording methods are used? Multiple ways: bookmarks, policy statements, workflows, external documents 12 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Nomens and recording methods RDA Entity M 1 has appellation has title proper N 1 Nomen has nomen string “My title” has title proper M 1 has identifier … N 2 has nomen string has identifier … The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond “ 0123 -4567”

Identifying an entity An entity is identified with a label by humans = Record at least one appellation element has name of RDA entity RDA Entity [IRI] has access point for RDA entity has identifier for RDA entity 14 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond “Name of entity” “Access point for entity” “Identifier for entity” September 14, 2021

Using appellation data “Name of entity” Unstructured description Keyword index: “entity”; “name” “Access point for entity” Structured description Authority index: “Entity, access point for” “Identifier for entity” Identifier Local application links: “Entity. ID” IRI for entity 15 IRI Global linked data The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Well-formed description Coherent Compliance with LRM/RDA ontology LRM retains FRBR relationships and cardinality restrictions (with clarification) 16 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

FRBR cardinality Work At least 1 17 Expression Manifestation 1 and only 1 At least 1 1 and only 1 Item The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Minimal configuration (M) Manifestation “Title, access point, or identifier” has appellation of manifestation 18 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Minimal configuration (E) Expression has appellation of expression “Title, access point, or identifier” “Title, access point, or identifier has manifestation of related manifestation” of expression Manifestation has work expressed “Title, access point, or identifier of related work” Work 19 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Minimal configuration (I) Item has appellation of item “Title, access point, or identifier” “Title, access point, or identifier has manifestation of related manifestation” exemplified Manifestation 20 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Effective description Choice of which resource entity to describe is governed by an application profile. A well-formed description must conform to an appropriate minimal configuration. Choice of which additional elements to record, and the recording method, is governed by an application profile. Or cataloguer’s judgement 21 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Effective manifestation description Manifestation Expression “Other characteristics of manifestation” Agent “Title, access point, or identifier of related expression” Place “Title, access point, or identifier of related agent” Timespan 22 “Title, access point, or identifier” The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond “Title, access point, or identifier of related place” September 14, 2021

Work groups A set of works that are identified as a whole has appellation of work group Work “Appellation of work group” “Authorized access point for has authorized access point work group” for work group has identifier for work group 23 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond “Identifier for work group” September 14, 2021

Data provenance Who made the metadata statement? When was it stated? Where did the values come from? What standards were applied? The trick: treat each statement or set as a work Then apply RDA … 24 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

The new RDA Toolkit A package of data elements, guidelines, and instructions. . . A package that meets the resource description st and access needs of the 21 century 25 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021

Thank you! 26 The new RDA: resource description in libraries and beyond September 14, 2021