Practical Cataloging

“Welsh and Batley have given us a fine example of the kind of transitional work needed as we move forward with implementation and practical application of Resource Description and Access. This book offers a simple overview and comparison of RDA and AACR2, as well as discussion of some of the more fundamental issues of FRBR and its role in modernizing library catalogues. Cataloguers new and old should find it an informative read that gently ushers them into understanding the changes on the horizon for bibliographic control.”
--Shawne D. Miksa, Acting Associate Director, Interdisciplinary Information Science Program, University of North Texas

The impending launch of Resource Description and Access: RDA will undoubtedly transform cataloging standards that have been virtually unchanged for 30 years, and little guidance is available to help catalogers make a smooth transition to RDA. Practical Cataloging: AACR2, RDA and MARC21 fills this gap by offering a step-by-step guide for mapping these new standards onto existing rules for description. The book thoroughly covers FRBR (Functional Requirements of Bibliographic Records) and FRAD (Functional Requirements of Authority Data), on which the new rules are built, and explores how RDA elements can be incorporated into MARC21.

Authors Anne Welsh and Sue Batley provide readers with an introduction to current catalogs and standards, and examine publication formats, bibliographic elements, access points, and headings. Theirs is a complete guide to RDA, including its development, structure, and features, plus a section that addresses its similarities and differences with AACR2. The authors also explain the MARC21 record, studying tags, indicators, and sub-field codes.

Instructors: Interested in adopting this textbook? Neal-Schuman Publishers is happy to tell you more about the book or arrange an exam copy. E-mail textbook.consultant@neal-schuman.com for more information.