Implementing RDA in a time of change: RDA and system migration at RMIT University

TLDR: The National Library of Australia was among national libraries who implemented Resource Description and Access (RDA) in early 2013 as discussed by the authors, and RMIT University in Melbourne chose to implement with the National Library, despite an upcoming migration from a Voyager Integrated Library Management System (ILMS) to Alma library services platform.

Abstract: The National Library of Australia was among national libraries who implemented Resource Description and Access (RDA) in early 2013. RMIT University in Melbourne chose to implement with the National Library, despite an upcoming migration from a Voyager Integrated Library Management System (ILMS) to Alma library services platform. This article describes the experience of RMIT in implementing RDA while also investing resources in a systems change. It addresses staff training, policy development, and processes to automate the conversion of Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition (AACR2) records. It includes lessons learned as advice to institutions who have yet to implement RDA.

Figures

FIGURE 7. ALMA RECORD BEFORE NORMALIZATION RULE

FIGURE 1. COMPLEX PUBLICATION DETAILS

FIGURE 5. AACR2 RECORD AFTER RDA HELPER

FIGURE 2. RDA IN ALMA

FIGURE 8. ALMA RECORD AFTER NORMALIZATION RULE

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Please do not remove this page
Implementing RDA in a time of change: RDA and
system migration at RMIT University
Parent, Melissa
https://researchrepository.rmit.edu.au/discovery/delivery/61RMIT_INST:ResearchRepository/12247774550001341?l#13248353690001341
Parent. (2014). Implementing RDA in a time of change: RDA and system migration at RMIT University.
Cataloging and Classification Quarterly, 52(6-7), 775–796. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2014.889058
Published Version: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2014.889058
Document Version: Accepted Manuscript
Downloaded On 2022/08/10 09:15:32 +1000
© The author
Repository homepage: https://researchrepository.rmit.edu.au
Please do not remove this page

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PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS PAGE
Parent, M 2014, 'Implementing RDA in a time of change: RDA and system migration at
RMIT University', Cataloging and Classification Quarterly, vol. 52, no. 6-7, pp. 775-796.
http://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:24831
A
ccepted Manuscript
The author
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2014.889058

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in
Cataloging & Classification Quarterly on 25 August 2014, available online:
http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01639374.2014.889058

1
IMPLEMENTING RDA IN A TIME OF CHANGE: RDA AND SYSTEM
MIGRATION AT RMIT UNIVERSITY
Melissa Parent, RMIT University
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published in
Cataloging & Classification Quarterly on 25 August 2014,
available online:
http://www.tandfonline.com/DOI: 10.1080/01639374.2014.889058.
The National Library of Australia was among national libraries who
implemented Resource Description and Access (RDA) in early 2013. RMIT
University in Melbourne chose to implement with the National Library, despite
an upcoming migration from a Voyager ILMS to Alma library services
platform. This article describes the experience of RMIT in implementing RDA
while also investing resources in a systems change. It addresses staff
training, policy development, and processes to automate the conversion of
AACR2 records. It includes lessons learned as advice to institutions who have
yet to implement RDA.
KEYWORDS Resource Description and Access (RDA), training, cataloging
policy, automation, Alma
BACKGROUND
RMIT University (RMIT) is Australia’s largest tertiary institution. The Library
serves a population of 57,000 onshore students across three campuses and

2
maintains a collection of approximately 750,000 physical items. RMIT
contributes bibliographic and holding records to Libraries Australia, the
Australian resource-sharing database administered by the National Library of
Australia, and is a member of the Council of Australian University Libraries
and the Australian Technology Network of Universities.
The Library Resources and Access department (LR&A) conducts technical
services operations from a central location and is divided into two teams. The
Monograph team (16 full-time employees plus manager) performs acquisitions
work, copy and original monograph and AV cataloging, and end processing.
The E-resources and Serials team (11 FTE plus manager) performs electronic
resource management tasks, copy cataloging of serials, and database
management activities. By a slight majority, most LR&A team members hold
professional librarian qualifications, which in the Australian context means a
tertiary qualification at the bachelor, graduate diploma or masters level
1
. The
remaining members hold paraprofessional qualifications or equivalent
experience. Tasks within each team tend to be allocated according to aptitude
and productivity rather than according to a staff member’s qualification, and
blended roles that include a range of tasks are common. The Library may be
somewhat unusual in this respect. More than half of all LR&A staff have been
in the department for twenty or more years.
INTRODUCTION
In April 2013, RMIT Library chose to implement RDA concurrently with
another significant change: migration from a Voyager ILMS to an Alma library

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions mentioned in the paper "Implementing rda in a time of change: rda and system migration at rmit university" ?

In this paper, the authors describe the RDA implementation experience of RMIT RDA, which occurred after a short period of planning. 

Q2. What future works have the authors mentioned in the paper "Implementing rda in a time of change: rda and system migration at rmit university" ?

Institutions that are looking into the future to decide the timing of their own implementations may have difficulty identifying the most suitable time to move forward. Grant, Carl, “ The Future of Library Systems: Library Services Platforms, ” Information Standards Quarterly 24 no. 4, ( 2012 ): 7. 18. El-Sherbini, Magda, RDA: Strategies for Implementation ( Chicago: ALA Editions, 2013 ), 62-64. 19. Cronin, Christopher, “ From Testing to Implementation, ” 633. 20. With implementation goals defined, small training groups, and responsive ( or prior ) policy development, any time may be a good-enough time to implement RDA. 

Q3. What is the role of FRBR in the post-implementation RDA automations?

The language of cataloging at the Library has shifted from AACR2 to RDA, and FRBR training has proved beneficial in the post-implementation RDA automations that the Library has enacted. 

Q4. What was the role of the RDA policy development?

Developing RDA policy as training and implementation proceeded was a task in data analysis, communication, and information organization. 

Q5. What is the role of peer review in the implementation of RDA?

Peer review of each record can be a valuable learning tool during the initial RDA training phase and can be seen as a worthy investment in a successful implementation. 

Q6. How long has the Library been able to conduct a formal assessment?

Some eight months after formal RDA implementation at RMIT, the Library has had opportunity to reflect on the training and implementation process without yet being able to conduct a formal assessment.