Cataloging Law Materials with
RDA
Presented by John Hostage
November 2, 2011
John Hostage
Harvard Law School Library
hostage@law.harvard.edu
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Outline
Foundations of RDA
 Access points for works
 Specific kinds of legal works

 Laws,
etc.
 Treaties, etc.
 Other legal works
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Foundations of RDA
RDA
Based on FR conceptual models
 Elements reflect attributes and
relationships of FRBR and FRAD entities
 FRBR group 1 entities: Work, Expression,
Manifestation, Item
 FRAD entities: Person, Family, Corporate
body, Place

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Law-related instructions for access points
for legal works
 Most instructions continue AACR2
practice, but in new arrangement

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Access points for works
Access points for works



Determine preferred title for legal work (6.19)
Additions to preferred title (6.20-6.22)
Construct access point to represent legal work
(6.29)
 Preferred
title
 Sometimes combined with authorized access point for
creator or other person, etc., associated with work
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Recording creators
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Creators

Examples for:
 Laws
of a political jurisdiction
 Decrees of a head of state, chief executive, or
ruling executive body
 Bills and drafts of legislation
 Administrative regulations, etc.
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Creators
 Constitutions,
charters, etc.
 Court
rules
 Treaties, international agreements, etc.
 Charges to juries, indictments, court
proceedings, and court decisions

In some cases (e.g. treaties) multiple
creators recorded
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Other persons, etc.
Other person, family or corporate body
associated with legal works (19.3.2)
 Applied to legal works listed in 19.3.2.1

 Jurisdiction
governed by a law, regulation,
etc.
 Issuing agency or agent
 Court governed by rules
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Other persons, etc.
 Body
governed by a constitution, etc.
 Person or corporate body prosecuted in a
criminal trial, etc.
 Person or corporate body indicted
 Person or corporate body bringing the action
in noncriminal proceedings
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Other persons, etc.
 Person
or corporate body on the opposing
side in noncriminal proceedings
 Judge
 Parties to a case
 Lawyer representing a party
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Core elements
Different kinds of creators and contributors
can be found in same work
 All may be recorded, regardless of role
 Core elements

 For
creators: principal or first-named
 For other contributors: if used to construct
authorized access point for work
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Authorized access points for
works
Rules for access points for various kinds of
legal works in 6.29
Other kinds of works not listed follow
general rules in 6.27
Rules for access points usually built on rules
for preferred title for legal works in 6.19
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Specific kinds of legal works
Laws governing one
jurisdiction (6.29.1.2)
Authorized access point for jurisdiction
governed (11.13.1), e.g. Canada.
 Preferred title for law or laws (6.19.2), e.g.

Canada Corporations Act
 Rules
for preferred title for laws similar to
AACR2 rules for uniform title
 Use Laws, etc. for complete or partial
compilation other than subject compilation
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Choosing the preferred title
for a law
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Constitutions
Included in rule for laws governing one
jurisdiction
 No rule for shortening the preferred title as
in AACR2, but LCPS for 6.19.2 says to
use “Constitution” or its equivalent

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Additions to access points
(6.29.1.32)

Add year of promulgation to break conflict
France. Code de procédure civile
France. Code de procédure civile (1975)
Note: Original code was promulgated 1806
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Laws governing more than one
jurisdiction (6.29.1.3)

Authorized access point according to
guidelines for compilations by different
bodies (6.27.1.4), which says to use the
preferred title for the compilation, e.g.
Narcotic laws of Mexico and the United States
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Administrative regulations, etc.,
that are laws (6.29.1.4)

Same access point as for laws, e.g.
Canada. Queen’s regulation and orders for the Canadian
Forces (1994 revision)
New Brunswick. Laws, etc.

For: Regulations of New Brunswick
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Bills and drafts of legislation
(6.29.1.5)
Combine:
 Access point for the legislative body
(11.13.1), e.g.
Australia. Parliament. House of Representatives.

Preferred title for the bill (6.19.2), e.g.
Second Corporate Law Simplification Bill
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Other drafts of legislation
Follow general rules for work (6.27.1):
Combine:
 Access point for creator, e.g.
Williston, Samuel, 1861-1963.

Preferred title for draft, e.g.
Draft of an act relating to the sale of goods
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Ancient laws, certain medieval
laws, customary laws, etc. (6.29.1.6)

Choose access point in order of
preference:
 Title
by which known, e.g. Lex Salica
 Title proper of the resource, e.g.
Fontes iuris Romani antejustiniani
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Administrative regulations, etc.,
that are not laws (6.29.1.7)
Combine:
 Access point for the agency or agent
(11.13.1), e.g.
Illinois. Department of Public Health.
Note: “Department” not abbreviated

Preferred title for the regulations (6.19.2),
e.g. Rules and regulations for recreational areas
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Rules governing a single court
(6.29.1.10)
Combine:
 Access point for the court (11.13.1), e.g.
United States. Tax Court.

Preferred title for the rules (6.19.2), e.g.
Rules of practice and procedure of the United States
Tax Court
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Constitutions, charters, etc., of
international intergovernmental bodies
(6.29.1.13)
Combine:
 Access point for the body (11.13.1), e.g.
United Nations.

Preferred title for constitution, etc. (6.19.2),
e.g.
Charter of the United Nations
Note: preferred title would be shortened to “Charter” under LCPS
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Treaties and other
international agreements
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Treaties, etc., between national
governments (6.29.1.15)
Combine:
 Access point for government named first
(11.13.1)
 Exception:
if one govt. on one side and 2 or more on
other side, use the one on one side

Preferred title for treaty (6.19.2.7), e.g.
Treaties, etc.
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Choosing preferred title for
treaty
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Treaty example (cover page)
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Additions to treaties (6.29.1.33)

name of second party, e.g.
Bulgaria

date, earlier date, or earliest date of
signing, e.g.
1991 June 7
Note: Names of months no longer abbreviated (6.20.3)

Full access point:
United States. Treaties, etc. Bulgaria, 1991 June 7
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First signatory?
If no consistency in order in which
governments are named, use govt. named
first in first resource received
 If first signatory can’t be determined use
preferred title of treaty, e.g.

Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization
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Treaty example: no signatories
listed
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Treaty example enlarged
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Additions to treaties entered
under name of treaty

Add year, earlier year, or earliest year of
signing (6.29.1.33)
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization
(1994)
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Agreements contracted by international
intergovernmental bodies (6.29.1.16)
Follow same rule as for international
treaties, i.e. combine first named party and
preferred title “Treaties, etc.”
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Example
For: Agreement between the United Nations and
the World Intellectual Property Organization
First named party: United Nations.
 Preferred title: Treaties, etc.
 Full access point:

United Nations. Treaties, etc. World Intellectual Property
Organization, 1975 January 21
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Agreements contracted by
the Holy See (6.29.1.17)
Follow same rule as for international
treaties, i.e. combine first named party and
preferred title “Treaties, etc.”
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Example
For: Accordo del 18 febbraio tra l'Italia e la
Santa Sede
 First named party: Italy.
 Preferred title: Treaties, etc.
 Full access point:
Italy. Treaties, etc. Catholic Church, 1984 February 18
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Other agreements involving
jurisdictions (6.29.1.18)

2 or more jurisdictions below national level
or a national government and one or more
jurisdictions within its country:
 follow
rules for collaborative works (6.27.1.3),
i.e. first named party and no “Treaties, etc.”
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Examples
2 jurisdictions below national level
Maine. Joint agreement between the state of Maine and
the province of New Brunswick
National government and one of its
jurisdictions
Ontario. Memorandum of agreement between the
government of the province of Ontario and the
government of Canada pursuant to section 4(3) of the
Anti-Inflation Act
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Other agreements

Jurisdictions below national level and one
or more international intergovernmental
bodies:
 follow
6.29.1.16, i.e. combine first named
party and “Treaties, etc.”
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Other agreements

National government and one or more
jurisdictions below national level outside
its country:
 follow
6.29.1.15, i.e. combine first named
party and “Treaties, etc.”
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Example
For: Convention between the Government of the
United States of America and the Government
of the British Virgin Islands for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation …
First named party: United States.
Preferred title: Treaties, etc.
Full access point:
United States. Treaties, etc. British Virgin Islands, 1981
February 18
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Other agreements
2 or more national governments and one or
more jurisdictions below national level:
 follow 6.29.1.15, i.e. combine first named
party and preferred title “Treaties, etc.”
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Other agreements
Government at any level and a nongovernmental corporate body:
 follow 6.27.1.3 for collaborative works, i.e.
first named party and no “Treaties, etc.”,
e.g.:
Liberia. Concession agreement between the government
of the Republic of Liberia and Liberia Iron and Steel
Corporation
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Protocols, amendments, etc.
Use authorized access point for basic
agreement including additions such as
other party and date (6.29.1.19)
 Add “Protocols, etc.” and date of signing of
protocol (6.29.1.33)

Ireland. Treaties, etc. Portugal, 1993 June 1. Protocols,
etc., 2005 November 11
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Compilations of treaties, etc.
(6.29.1.20)
Between two parties: use same access
point as for single agreement
 Between one party and two or more
parties on other side: use same access
point as for single agreement
 Other compilations: use general
instructions (6.27.1.4)

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Other legal works
related to courts and court cases
Reports of one court (6.29.1.21)


Rules carried over from AACR2
Not ascribed to reporter: use access point for
court and preferred title for reports, e.g.
Canada. Federal Court. Canada Federal Court reports

Not issued under authority of court: use title, e.g.
Reports of cases argued and determined in the Court of
Appeals of Arizona
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Reports of one court
Ascribed to reporter(s): use access point
for reporter or court, depending on citation
practice
 CC:DA has agreed to revision to always
use access point for court for reports of
single court; not yet approved by JSC

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Reports by one reporter (ex.)
58
Reports of more than one
court (6.29.1.22)
One reporter or collaborating reporters: use
access point for single reporter or one with
principal responsibility plus preferred title
for reports
Freeman, Richard, 1645 or 1646–1710. Reports of
cases argued and determined in the Courts of King’s
Bench and Common Pleas, from 1670 to 1704
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Reports of more than one court
Reporter(s) not responsible for all reports, or
no reporter: use preferred title, e.g.
Australian law reports
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Citations, digests, etc.
(6.29.1.23)

If compiler, etc., prominently named:
combine access point for person and
preferred title, e.g.
Phillips, Richard H. (Richard Henry), 1890–1971.
Connecticut digest, 1785 to date

Otherwise, use preferred title, e.g.
Commonwealth digest
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Criminal proceedings (ex.)
62
Criminal proceedings and
appeals (6.29.1.24)
Combine:
 Access point for defendant or first-named
defendant
Alley, Leavitt.

Preferred title for proceedings
Report of the trial of Leavitt Alley, indicted for the murder
of Abijah Ellis, in the Supreme Judicial Court of
Massachusetts
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Noncriminal proceedings (ex.)
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Civil and other noncriminal
proceedings and appeals (6.29.1.25)
Combine:
 Access point for plaintiff or first-named
plaintiff
Brooks, William, 1803–1863.

Preferred title for proceedings
Case of William Brooks versus Ezekiel Byam and others,
in equity, in the Circuit Court of the United States, for the
First Circuit-District of Massachusetts
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Indictment (ex.)
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Indictments (6.29.1.26)

Follow rules for criminal proceedings, i.e.
combine person indicted plus preferred
title for indictment
Duane, William, 1760–1835. Copy of an indictment (No.
1) in the Circuit Court of the United States in and for the
Pennsylvania District of the Middle Circuit
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Charge to jury (ex.)
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Charges to juries (6.29.1.27)
Combine:
 Access point for the court
United States. Circuit Court (Middle Circuit).

Preferred title for the charge
Charge of Judge Paterson to the jury in the case of
Vanhorne’s lessee against Dorrance
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Judicial decision (ex.)
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Judicial decisions (6.29.1.28)
Combine:
 Access point for the court
United States. Supreme Court.

Preferred title for the decision
Freedom of the press
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Judicial opinions (6.29.1.29)
Combine:
 Access point for the judge
Sutliff, Milton, 1806–1879.

Preferred title for the opinion
Dissenting opinion of Hon. Milton Sutliff, one of the
judges
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Records of one party (6.29.1.30)
For brief, plea, etc., combine:
 Access point for the party
Morewood, George B.

Preferred title for the brief, etc.
George B. Morewood, John R. Morewood, Frederic R.
Routh, respondents, appellants versus Lorenzo N.
Enequist, libellant, appellee
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Records of
one party:
Lawyer’s
argument
(example)
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Records of one party
For courtroom argument presented by
lawyer, combine:
 Access point for lawyer
Gowen, Franklin B. (Franklin Benjamin), 1836–1889.

Preferred title for the argument
Argument of Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., of counsel for the
Commonwealth, in the case of the Commonwealth vs.
Thomas Munley
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Questions?
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