Basic Overview of FRBR &
RDA
Why, Who, What, Where, and When??
Donna R. Campbell
Technical Services & Systems Librarian
Westminster Theological Seminary
Jan. 26, 2011
FRBR & RDA

WHAT is it and WHY should I care?
FRBR & RDA


WHAT is it and WHY should I care?
FRBR (pronounced fer-ber)
FRBR & RDA


WHAT is it and WHY should I care?
FRBR (pronounced fer-ber) = Functional
Requirements for Bibliographic Records
FRBR & RDA



WHAT is it and WHY should I care?
FRBR (pronounced fer-ber) = Functional
Requirements for Bibliographic Records
RDA
FRBR & RDA



WHAT is it and WHY should I care?
FRBR (pronounced fer-ber) = Functional
Requirements for Bibliographic Records
RDA = Resource Description and Access
FRBR & RDA

First, came FRBR…
FRBR & RDA


First, came FRBR…
Then, came RDA…
FRBR & RDA



First, came FRBR…
Then, came RDA…
FRBR and RDA are intertwined in that RDA
is a set of cataloging rules based upon the
FRBR conceptual model.
FRBR & RDA




First, came FRBR…
Then, came RDA…
FRBR and RDA are intertwined in that RDA
is a set of cataloging rules based upon the
FRBR conceptual model.
In order to better understand RDA, we
should get a grasp of what FRBR is.
FRBR

WHAT is the FRBR conceptual model?
FRBR


WHAT is the FRBR conceptual model?
The next slide will give a brief
introduction.
FRBR



WHAT is the FRBR conceptual model?
The next slide will give a brief
introduction.
The video moves quickly but don’t panic,
just skim to get familiar with terms and
ideas. We’ll cover them later.
Bram Stoker's Dracula in FRBR
Terms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN0vK
CFsXPE
FRBR & RDA

The BIG question is WHY the change and
WHY does it matter to me especially if I’m
not a cataloger?
FRBR & RDA


The BIG question is WHY the change and
WHY does it matter to me especially if I’m
not a cataloger?
Potential changes to ILS and search and
retrieval differences
FRBR & RDA



The BIG question is WHY the change and
WHY does it matter to me especially if I’m
not a cataloger?
Potential changes to ILS and search and
retrieval differences
Simplify (cut cost) in the cataloging
sharing environment especially the digital
environment
Everyone
Everyone

Changes in searching techniques to glean
more information
Everyone


Changes in searching techniques to glean
more information
Interpreting the search results
Administrators
Administrators

Changes in job descriptions for traditional
catalogers and metadata catalogers
(AACR2 knowledge as well as RDA)
Administrators


Changes in job descriptions for traditional
catalogers and metadata catalogers
(AACR2 knowledge as well as RDA)
Provide training for the major changes in
cataloging rules
WHEN did FRBR come about?
1998, Way Back When…



International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Final Report on Functional Requirements
for Bibliographic Records (FRBR)
International cataloging principles and
standards were developed over time in a
different environment.
How Was It Different?
How Was It Different?
1.
An age before automated and integrated
library systems such as TLC, III
Millennium, ExLibris Voyager, Horizon,
and SIRSI Unicorn.
How Was It Different?
1.
2.
An age before automated and integrated
library systems such as TLC, III
Millennium, ExLibris Voyager, Horizon,
and SIRSI Unicorn.
An age before national and international
large-scale databases (e.g., OCLC),
where thousands of libraries contribute
catalog records.
How Was It Different?
1.
2.
3.
An age before automated and integrated
library systems such as TLC, III Millennium,
ExLibris Voyager, Horizon, and SIRSI Unicorn
An age before national and international largescale databases (e.g., OCLC), where thousands
of libraries contribute catalog records.
Furthermore, it was an age prior to shared
cataloging…each library did original cataloging
for each book. Indiana catalogers did not
borrow cataloging from Pennsylvania
catalogers much less Australia.
How Was It Different?
4.
Increased need to reduce cataloging
costs by decreasing duplicate cataloging
and simplifying the cataloging process
due to economic pressures and increase
in publications.
How Was It Different?
5.
Coupled with the increase in publications
and need for simplification of cataloging
rules, has been the advent of new
formats of publications coming at us with
increased rapidity as well as the use of
information sources that are networked
and licensed (i.e., more and more
complexity and labor time)
How Was It Different?
6.
The changing environment includes user
expectations and needs.
How To Adapt To Changing
Environment?
How To Adapt To Changing
Environment?

FRBR was born--
How To Adapt To Changing
Environment?


FRBR was born-Beginning in 1990 with international reviews and
comments and ending with the Final Report in
1998, IFLA constructed a framework of the goals
of a bibliographic record and what a basic record
should look like in this present age with the
aforementioned changes in mind. This is how
FRBR came about.
WHAT is FRBR?
WHAT is FRBR?

More user-focused rather than formatfocused
WHAT is FRBR?


More user-focused rather than formatfocused
Entity-relationship conceptual model
WHAT are Users?
WHAT are Users?

Not just as library patrons but users
outside the traditional library such as
publishers and retailers.
How is FRBR more user-focused?

Functional requirements for bibliographic
records are defined in relation to four user
tasks.
Four User Tasks
1.
Find
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
Find
Identify
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
Find
Identify
Select
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find
Identify
Select
Obtain
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find: Users use bibliographic records to
find materials that correspond to their
search criteria such as a specific title or
all information sources covering a
desired subject matter.
Identify
Select
Obtain
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find
Identify: Users use the retrieved data in
bibliographic records to identify an entity. That
is, the user uses the data in the record to
confirm that is the information source he
wants. Example: User can distinguish between
two records that have same title but different
texts.
Select
Obtain
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find
Identify
Select: Users use the retrieved data in
bibliographic records to select an entity
that is appropriate to his needs.
Example: Select a text that is in the
language he desires.
Obtain
Four User Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
Find
Identify
Select
Obtain: Users use the retrieved data in
bibliographic records to acquire or obtain
access to the entity described. Examples: to
retrieve it from the library shelf, to place an
ILL request, to access the full text online)
WHAT is an entity-relationship
conceptual model?
WHAT is an entity-relationship
conceptual model?

Important FRBR terminology includes:
WHAT is an entity-relationship
conceptual model?

Important FRBR terminology includes:

Entities
WHAT is an entity-relationship
conceptual model?

Important FRBR terminology includes:


Entities
Attributes
WHAT is an entity-relationship
conceptual model?

Important FRBR terminology includes:



Entities
Attributes
Relationships
WHAT are Entities?
WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:
WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:

Group I Entities: The products of intellectual
or artistic endeavor that are named or
described in bibliographic records:
WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:

Group I Entities: The products of intellectual
or artistic endeavor that are named or
described in bibliographic records:

Work
WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:

Group I Entities: The products of intellectual
or artistic endeavor that are named or
described in bibliographic records:
Work
 Expression

WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:

Group I Entities: The products of intellectual
or artistic endeavor that are named or
described in bibliographic records:
Work
 Expression
 Manifestation

WHAT are Entities?

Three Groups of Entities:

Group I Entities: The products of intellectual
or artistic endeavor that are named or
described in bibliographic records:
Work
 Expression
 Manifestation
 Item

Group I Entities are what you saw
in the Dracula video
WHAT are Entities?

Group II Entities: Those entities
responsible for the intellectual or artistic
content, the physical production and
dissemination, or the custodianship of
such products:
WHAT are Entities?

Group II Entities: Those entities
responsible for the intellectual or artistic
content, the physical production and
dissemination, or the custodianship of
such products:

Person
WHAT are Entities?

Group II Entities: Those entities
responsible for the intellectual or artistic
content, the physical production and
dissemination, or the custodianship of
such products:


Person
Corporate body
WHAT are Entities?

Group III Entities: Set of entities that
serve as the subjects of intellectual or
artistic endeavor:
WHAT are Entities?

Group III Entities: Set of entities that
serve as the subjects of intellectual or
artistic endeavor:

Concept
WHAT are Entities?

Group III Entities: Set of entities that
serve as the subjects of intellectual or
artistic endeavor:


Concept
Object
WHAT are Entities?

Group III Entities: Set of entities that
serve as the subjects of intellectual or
artistic endeavor:



Concept
Object
Event
WHAT are Entities?

Group III Entities: Set of entities that
serve as the subjects of intellectual or
artistic endeavor:




Concept
Object
Event
Place
Again, WHAT is an entityrelationship conceptual model?
Again, WHAT is an entityrelationship conceptual model?

FRBR maps out relationships between
these groups of entities
Again, WHAT is an entityrelationship conceptual model?

FRBR maps out relationships between
these groups of entities

Ex. Group I to Group II
Again, WHAT is an entityrelationship conceptual model?

FRBR maps out relationships between
these groups of entities


Ex. Group I to Group II
FRBR maps out relationships between
entities in the same Group
Again, WHAT is an entityrelationship conceptual model?

FRBR maps out relationships between
these groups of entities


Ex. Group I to Group II
FRBR maps out relationships between
entities in the same Group

Ex. Group I Work to Group I Expression
Back to Group I Entities




Work
Expression
Manifestation
Item
Bram Stoker's Dracula in FRBR
Terms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN0vK
CFsXPE
WHAT are Attributes?
WHAT are Attributes?

Each Entity has logically-defined Attributes
WHAT are Attributes?

Each Entity has logically-defined Attributes

Examples:
WHAT are Attributes?

Each Entity has logically-defined Attributes

Examples:

Attributes of a work include title of the work, date
of the work, intended audience, etc.
WHAT are Attributes?

Each Entity has logically-defined Attributes

Examples:
Attributes of a work include title of the work, date
of the work, intended audience, etc.
 Attributes of an expression include title of the
expression, date of the expression, language of
the expression, etc.

WHAT are Attributes?

Each Entity has logically-defined Attributes

Examples:
Attributes of a work include title of the work, date
of the work, intended audience, etc.
 Attributes of an expression include title of the
expression, date of the expression, language of
the expression, etc.
 Attributes of a person include name of person,
birth and death dates of person, etc

WHAT are Relationships?
WHAT are Relationships?

FRBR is an entity-relationship model
WHAT are Relationships?


FRBR is an entity-relationship model
The FRBR model maps out the relationship
between the different entities and
attributes that are relevant to the four
user tasks.
WHAT are Relationships?



FRBR is an entity-relationship model
The FRBR model maps out the relationship
between the different entities and
attributes that are relevant to the four
user tasks.
It’s a model that can be applied to ILS
database structures.
Application of FRBR

Still in the developmental stages of how
the FRBR model can be applied to help
users.
Application of FRBR


Still in the developmental stages of how
the FRBR model can be applied to help
users.
VTLS Virtua is one example


VTLS = vendor
Virtua = software
VTLS Virtua

In a demo of this product, William Denton,
Web Librarian at York University, reports
that a search for “adventures of tom
sawyer” generates 3 records along with a
link to generate a FRBR display:
VTLS Virtua

Clicking the FRBR Display link you see
this:
WHAT is RDA?
WHAT is RDA?

Originally dubbed AACR3, to show new
edition of AACR2, the title was changed to
RDA to signify the radical and global shift
in cataloging rules.
WHAT is RDA?

Designed to apply the FRBR conceptual
model
WHAT is RDA?


Designed to apply the FRBR conceptual
model
Designed to simplify cataloging code
WHAT is RDA?



Designed to apply the FRBR conceptual
model
Designed to simplify cataloging code
Designed to establish it as a content
standard for various metadata schema

More re-use of metadata
WHAT is RDA?



Designed to apply the FRBR conceptual
model
Designed to simplify cataloging code
Designed to establish it as a content
standard for various metadata schema


More re-use of metadata
Designed for the digital/online
environment
WHAT is RDA?



Designed to apply the FRBR conceptual model
Designed to simplify cataloging code
Designed to establish it as a content standard
for various metadata schema



More re-use of metadata beyond libraries
Designed for the digital/online environment
Improve organization and access in this
changing environment
NEWS

As of Dec. 31, 2010, the RDA test period
ended. A decision whether to implement
RDA in the U.S. is scheduled to be made
no later than June 2011.
WHAT do we do now?
WHAT do we do now?

What will happen to all of the catalog
records we currently have?
WHAT do we do now?


What will happen to all of the catalog
records we currently have?
Should we change from AACR2 to RDA?
WHAT do we do now?



What will happen to all of the catalog
records we currently have?
Should we change from AACR2 to RDA?
How can we obtain training for RDA?
WHAT do we do now?




What will happen to all of the catalog
records we currently have?
Should we change from AACR2 to RDA?
How can we obtain training for RDA?
What are the FRBR plans for our ILS?
WHAT do I do now?





What will happen to all of the catalog
records we currently have?
Should we change from AACR2 to RDA?
How can we obtain training for RDA?
What are the FRBR plans for our ILS?
How can our library utilize FRBR to benefit
our patrons?
Assurances & Suggestions

Years of cataloging will be honored (i.e.,
no massive retrospective conversion)
Assurances & Suggestions


Years of cataloging will be honored (i.e.,
no massive retrospective conversion)
Investigate VTLS’s “FRBR Software as a
Service.”
Assurances & Suggestions



Years of cataloging will be honored (i.e.,
no massive retrospective conversion)
Investigate VTLS’s “FRBR Software as a
Service.”
Investigate VTLS’s RDA Sandbox! product.
Assurances & Suggestions




Years of cataloging will be honored (i.e.,
no massive retrospective conversion)
Investigate VTLS’s “FRBR Software as a
Service.”
Investigate VTLS’s RDA Sandbox! product.
Attend SEPTLA Meeting, May 9 and RDA
Workshop, May 10.
Remember that the changes are
not as scary as they seem!