-------- Original Message -------- Subject: OCLC statement on the RDA implementation decision Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:14:31 -0400 From: Weitz,Jay <[log in to unmask]> To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship <[log in to unmask]> With the release of the “Response of the Library of Congress, the National Agricultural Library, and the National Library of Medicine to the RDA Test Coordinating Committee” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/tsd/cataloging/RDA_Executives_statement.pdf), OCLC is beginning a process to determine how best to proceed in the integration of RDA practices into WorldCat. The current OCLC policy statement on RDA cataloging, which has been in effect since the publication of RDA in June 2010, during the RDA national testing period of October through December 2010, and remains in effect, is located at http://www.oclc.org/us/en/rda/policy.htm. Later this year, OCLC intends to issue a discussion paper regarding the possible future of bibliographic records with mixed practices in WorldCat. The purpose of this paper will be to generate as wide a discussion as possible among members of the OCLC cooperative in order to work toward a consensus about the policies that will work best both for the cataloging community and for library users. Because the U.S. implementation date for RDA has been announced as no sooner than January 2013, there is ample time to consider thoughtfully what best practices might help to carry cooperative cataloging into the long term future. OCLC staff members will be participating in three task groups on RDA formed by the PCC (http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/); the work of those task groups will also help to inform these most important discussions. In the meantime, while the process of preparing and discussing that paper is taking place, OCLC requests that libraries continue to abide by the policies outlined in the current policy statement. Please remember that duplicate records within WorldCat are not permitted and will be merged if found. In addition, please do not edit the master records to change them from RDA to AACR2 or from AACR2 to RDA unless permitted under the policies set forth. Please feel free to share this statement. Cynthia M. Whitacre Manager, WorldCat Quality & Partner Content Dept. WorldCat Quality Management Division OCLC 800-848-5878, ext. 6183 [log in to unmask]