RDA: Where We Are, Where We Are Going

The RDA standard is currently in a transition period. The theoretical structure of the RDA standard, initially designed to work with the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) model, is being superseded by to the Library Reference Model (LRM). The change is taking place because the LRM has been designed to be used in linked data environments and to support and promote the use of bibliographic data in linked data environments. For working catalogers, who use the RDA Toolkit, RDA has launched the RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign Project (3R Project) to rewrite the standard. There is also a Beta site which provides Toolkit users with access to the updated documentation. This presentation will discuss some of the new concepts of the LRM being introduced into RDA. It will try and clarify some of the new vocabulary emerging from the RDA rewrite. It will also touch on potential application profiles, around which tools for using RDA with linked data are being developed. And, we will look at the issue of how education and training for RDA is being presented, asking questions about how well the cataloging community is being prepared for the transition to a linked data workflow.