• Index of this issue

No. 76, March 2013

In early 2013, the National Library of Australia is implementing the new cataloguing standard, Resource Description and Access (RDA). This implementation is the culmination of four years of preparation by a small team of people, led by Bibliographic Standards Manager, Catherine Argus.

Key activities have involved changes to our systems (including Libraries Australia, our local catalogue, and the related systems that interface with them), developing cataloguing policies for use with RDA, and the development and delivery of training. The National Library has also provided assistance to the Australian Committee on Cataloguing (ACOC) in their role to provide leadership to the Australian library community in the implementation of RDA.

One of the biggest of these tasks has been the development of RDA training. As well as training our own staff, the National Library assisted ACOC by providing training in late 2012 to State Library staff, library educators and professional trainers throughout Australia. Staff from the National Library of New Zealand also attended. The three-day course covered the FRBR model, the structure of RDA and cataloguing with RDA, and was complemented with a variety of interesting hands-on exercises and lively discussion sessions. Dracula, Pride and Prejudice, and even pure bred rabbits and guinea pigs helped bring the training to life! The training was very positively received, and the participants are now using their learning to develop training courses for their own staff and for the general library community in Australia.

< Dracula helps Library staff get their teeth into FRBR >

The National Library has now begun training its own staff. The training, an adaptation of the Train-the-trainer course, comprises 6-half days, complemented by specialist training in the areas of serials, music and authority work. We are delivering 8 courses over a two month period. Staff will be supported back in the workplace with a system of mentoring, review and regular Q&A sessions. Training and information sessions will also be delivered to information services staff and other Library staff, according to need. The Library has opted for a “rolling implementation”, allowing our cataloguing staff to begin using RDA as soon as their training is complete. Our intention is to cease using AACR2 by April 2013.

< Attending RDA training at the National Library >

So, while there is a way to go, the Library is now well on the way to implementation. The process has been long and challenging but we are excited about the change and look forward to being able to make the most of the benefits that RDA will bring to both our cataloguing and our library users.

For more news and information about RDA implementation in Australia, check the RDA pages of the ACOC website (Link to http://www.nla.gov.au/acoc/resource-description-and-access-rda-in-australia). Here you will find copies of our training documentation from the Train-the-Trainer courses, as well as information about where you can access RDA training in Australia.