Shirley Thomas
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:51:54 -0700
Melissa, you summed up exactly the distinction between being aware of RDA, being informed on how RDA will affect cataloging, and being able to formulate relevant comments for feedback. That's how I took Bonnie's comment on lack of enough time to actually get work done and keep up with such things too. In addition, RDA may not be fully implemented at all, or certainly not by all libraries. The feedback which included questions on whether such changes are going in the direction needed have largely, from what I've seen, been given low priority or outright ignored. I'm including FRBR in this comment, too, having seen the headaches Public Services staff endure trying to find a known item (yes, patrons--quite a lot of them, actually, really do care about specific content). So, in addition to having to be aware of FRBR/RDA issues, I feel I have to keep informed enough to confidently give input into the direction that's best for my library. I'm looking forward to watching the current Cataloging Matters podcast, thanks!
Shirley Thomas, Cataloging Specialist Chemeketa Community College Library Salem, OR 503.399.5178 -----Original Message----- From: Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and Access [mailto:rd...@listserv.lac-bac.gc.ca] On Behalf Of Cookson, Ms. Melissa Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 3:09 PM To: RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA Subject: Re: [RDA-L] Feedback on RDA My take on this is that there is a difference between having the time to go over RDA and understand it well enough to comment upon it, and keeping up enough that, when/if it's time for RDA to be implemented, one has strategies for doing so. Since RDA is not necessarily a done deal in the U.S., it can be difficult to argue (with supervisors, library directors, whoever else) for the time to go over RDA in any detail, particularly when there is a mountain of work that must be done in a timely manner and no one else who can do it. For my own part, I've tried to keep track of the major changes, particularly those that would require time working with our Systems Librarian so that everything will continue to display in an understandable way. I've also taken a look at the Toolkit from the perspective of someone who may have to catalog with it. None of that gives me the ability to make critical comments about RDA, however. Melissa Cookson Catalog Librarian Tarleton State University Email: cook...@tarleton.edu -----Original Message----- From: Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and Access [mailto:rd...@listserv.lac-bac.gc.ca] On Behalf Of Miksa, Shawne Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 4:49 PM To: RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA Subject: Re: [RDA-L] Feedback on RDA I shudder at the thought of hearing that argument from my doctor. What happened to continuing education and job skill development? We've been offering workshops, pre-conferences, webinars, etc., on FR-related things and RDA for several years now. There are dozens of articles in the professional publications, there are blogs in which people post thoughts and criticism on all the issues--outside of their regular work, I imagine. I know cataloging departments that have weekly or monthly meetings during work hours in which to discuss the issues--and yes I realize some of you are working on your own, but there are online communities within professional associations that you can tap into for help. If you are unwilling to make the time, or insist to your employer that you need time during work hours, then what will you do when RDA is implemented and you don't have a clue what to do? I don't understand the logic behind your argument. ************************************************************** Shawne D. Miksa, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Library and Information Sciences College of Information University of North Texas email: shawne.mi...@unt.edu http://courses.unt.edu/smiksa/index.htm office 940-565-3560 fax 940-565-3101 **************************************************************