ETL505 – Topic Four

Metadata Standards

                    

I must admit that I still do not fully understand cataloguing rules and ways to write bibliographic descriptions. I find it hard to follow both the terminology and punctuation. (This is probably going to make the second assignment rather difficult).

What I do understand, however, is the why. Why it is so important to have descriptions, why it is so important to have standards and why there is a shift from AACR2 to RDA.

I think Kirkland’s (2010) article sums up well the implications of and reasons these changes are occurring. As with all education things these days, bibliographic description needs to become more user-centred and user-friendly. She makes the point that a shift to an online format, with generic descriptions for all types of resources will make for more relevant library OPACs.

Chapman’s (2010) article further highlights the need for change. It seems silly to me to restrict descriptions of format because it doesn’t fit, or to not even have links between the same text because format is different. Again the generic-ness of RDA descriptions that take format into account in different ways seems so much better.

I guess what I am discovering is that AACR2 seems to be cataloguer and budget friendly, while RDA is much more user/student/searcher friendly. And if the whole point of the library and the Teacher-Librarian is to meet the needs of users/students I say bring it on.