PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records

PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records

On September 15, 2011, it was announced on the PCCLIST that the PCC Policy Committee endorsed the report of the PCC Task Group on AACR2 & RDA Acceptable Heading Categories. One of the key ideas contained in that report was that a PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records is both necessary and desirable.

Definition

The PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records is defined as the point after which all new authority records entering the LC/NACO Authority File must be coded RDA, and all access points on bibliographic records coded “pcc” must be RDA.

Changes to records in the LC/NACO Authority File

The report of the PCC Task Group on AACR2 & RDA Acceptable Heading Categories states: “Having a clear distinction in the LC/NACO Authority File between those AACR2 headings that can be used under RDA and those that cannot is important for all users of the file, and is critical for the period leading up to the implementation of RDA” (p. 14). Headings not acceptable under RDA need to be flagged as soon as possible during this interim period (p. 15).

Three categories of records and the timing of their re-coding in the LC/NACO Authority File are addressed in the report:

• About 225,000 records in the file (2.8%) have headings which contain elements not provided for under RDA, or appear to lack information believed to be essential under RDA and therefore require more work. It is proposed that a 667 note be added to these authority records immediately to alert catalogers that the headings cannot be used in an RDA bibliographic record after PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records.

• About 172,000 records in the file (2.1%) have headings which will be usable under RDA after some batch operations are performed by machine. The nature of this category and the batch operations needed are further described in the report (p. 8). It is proposed that a 667 note be added immediately to these authority records to alert catalogers that the heading cannot be used as part of a new authority record until those batch operations have been performed, as close to PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records as possible.

• About 7,631,000 records--the vast majority (95.1%)--are AACR2 authority records whose 1XX fields can be used under RDA without further modification. It is proposed that these records be re-coded as RDA as close to PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records as possible, so catalogers can clearly identify them. Before PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records, the lack of a 667 field beginning “This heading cannot be used under RDA until …” would be the indication that the heading is currently RDA acceptable and may be used as part of an access point in a new RDA authority record.

NO PCC Day One for RDA Bibliographic Records

The PCC does not see a similar need for a PCC Day One for RDA Bibliographic Records. The PCC Policy Committee continues to believe that each institution should transition to RDA bibliographic record contribution on its own timetable, with the understanding that RDA NACO authority training should precede RDA bibliographic contribution.

What contributors of PCC bibliographic records should do:

Before PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records

• PCC catalogers will continue to follow the PCC Post RDA Test Guidelines.

After PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records

• Access points used in all new RDA and AACR2 bibliographic records with authentication code “pcc” must be supported by RDA authority records.

• PCC catalogers contributing RDA or AACR2 bibliographic records with authentication code “pcc” must evaluate and re-code as RDA any AACR2 authority record that had been flagged as not usable as an RDA heading, but which is needed as an access point in the “pcc” authenticated bibliographic record (i.e., the records mentioned in the first two bullets on page 1.) These records do include a 667 field beginning “This heading cannot be used under RDA until …”

PCC catalogers not falling into either category above may not code their bibliographic records “pcc.”

When will PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records Occur?

PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records is March 31, 2013.

PCC Day One for RDA Authority Recordsis harmonized with the LC RDA Implementation Date, which is also March 31, 2013.

Next Steps

The immediate next step is charging and appointing a group to continue the work of the PCC Task Group on AACR2 & RDA Acceptable Heading Categories. This follow-up group, the Acceptable Headings Implementation Task Group, has been charged to thoroughly document, test, and proceed with the proposed batch alteration and re-coding of authority records. It will be chaired by Gary Strawn, Northwestern University.

RDA NACO Authority Training

The PCC Policy Committee wishes to support all of its PCC member institutions in the approach to PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records. Clear guidelines, training, and review will be vital to ensure the continued high quality and consistency expected of PCC contributions.

• The PCC Secretariat and the Standing Committee on Training will issue announcements on the PCCLIST as authority training plans are finalized.
• The PCC is currently creating RDA NACO training that will be available to all PCC members starting in Spring 2012. This training will address the construction of RDA access points, highlighting the differences between RDA and AACR2. The training will also cover the coding of the new MARC fields 046 and 3xx in RDA authority records.
• The PCC Secretariat currently is reviewing daily all RDA NACO authority records, as well as all AACR2 authority records that contain RDA “elements” (046, 3xx fields, etc.). This daily review will continue as PCC libraries begin RDA authority work, forming the basis of a temporary review period for RDA NACO contributions.
• Following their RDA NACO training, an informal review will be applied to authority records contributed by PCC institutions. The Secretariat and the Standing Committee on Training will develop and announce the procedures.
• A mechanism will be developed by the Secretariat to answer, track, and share RDA NACO questions that arise post-training.

Approved by the PCC Steering and Policy Committees

December 20, 2011

Updated March 23, 2012 to include March 31, 2013 as PCC Day One for RDA Authority Records.

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