FAQ

You can subscribe to the RDA Toolkit as an individual institution. See the RDA Toolkit’s “Subscribe” for more information, which includes special rates for LIS program. If your institution is part of a consortium, you may be able to qualify for consortial pricing. See “Accessing the RDA Toolkit” for more information.

As addressed in the RDA Toolkit FAQ, "The subscription fee covers development and production costs of RDA Toolkit." For more information on discounted or consortial pricing, see the Guide to Accessing the RDA Toolkit.

Official RDA only specifies minimum description requirements for each RDA entity. For PCC members: the LC-PCC Policy Statement at the Prerecording section of each element page tells you if the element is LC/PCC Core.

The Official RDA toolkit has an international focus. Instead of rules, the toolkit describes specific conditions with potential options.  Different options are provided for a wide range of individuals and communities. As RDA develops and more communities implement RDA, you may see additional options and condition-options introduced.

Official RDA element pages have a standard organization. General guidance comes first, followed by specific guidance. Longer pages list their contents at the Recording section.

If you are required to cite a specific passage within an RDA element page, such as a specific Condition-Option, you can highlight the passage; from the pop-up bubble that appears, either select the chain link icon to generate a specific URI or select the # symbol to generate a specific citation number. Inputting that URI into any internet browser will allow you to jump directly back to the passage. Inputting the citation number (a string of numbers) into the RDA Toolkit Search box will also bring directly to the passage you highlighted.

You can find the normalized transcription guidelines in the Guidance section: Guidelines on normalized transcription (citation #: 83.30.12.17). Individual cataloguing communities may provide additional guidelines in the form of policy statements, community documents, or external documentation.

Always consult the “Definitions and Scope” section near the top of each RDA element page. Additionally, consult policy statements, community documents, or external documentation supplied by the cataloguing community that you belong to.

For example, for PCC members, use only the elements that LC/PCC recommends in the LC-PCC Policy Statements; turn on the “LC-PCC Policy Statements”, and look for the LC-PCC policy statement associated with the Prerecording section and follow the instruction.

The RDA Steering Committee has a standing Examples Working Group that is gradually adding more examples to individual elements. The Examples Working Group is also in the process of developing full examples. Individual cataloguing communities have prepared examples relevant to their communities. For instance, PCC has created a collection of Metadata Guidance Documents (MGDs) which provide lengthier instructions and examples. These MGDs are not part of the official RDA Toolkit, but they can be accessed by following links in the LC-PCC policy statements that are found within the toolkit, or can be accessed directly from https://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/mgd/ 

You can find the condition option for selecting a preferred source in the Guidance section: Data provenance, Recording a source of metadata for a manifestation that is being described (citation #: 25.29.25.23). Individual cataloguing communities may provide additional guidelines in the form of policy statements, community documents, or external documentation.