17
GENERAL GUIDELINES ON
RECORDING PRIMARY
RELATIONSHIPS
Contents
17.0 Purpose and Scope
17.1 Terminology
17.1.0 Explanation of Key Terms
17.1.1 Work, Expression, Manifestation, and Item
17.1.2 Access Point
17.2 Functional Objectives and Principles
17.3 Core Elements
17.4 Recording Primary Relationships
17.4.1 Scope
17.4.2 Conventions Used to Record Primary Relationships
17.5 Expression of Work
17.5.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression of a Work
17.6 Work Expressed
17.6.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Work Expressed
17.7 Manifestation of Work
17.7.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of a Work
17.8 Work Manifested
17.8.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Work Manifested
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17-1
17.9 Manifestation of Expression
17.9.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of an
Expression
17.10 Expression Manifested
17.10.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression Manifested
17.11 Exemplar of Manifestation
17.11.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Exemplar of the
Manifestation
17.12 Manifestation Exemplified
17.12.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Manifestation
Exemplified
17.0 Purpose and Scope
17.0.1
This chapter sets out the functional objectives and principles underlying the
guidelines and instructions on recording the primary relationships, and
specifies core elements to meet those objectives.
17.0.2
The chapter also provides general guidelines and instructions on the use of
identifiers, authorized access points, and composite descriptions to record
primary relationships.
17.1 Terminology
Contents
17.1.0 Explanation of Key Terms
17.1.1 Work, Expression, Manifestation, and Item
17.1.2 Access Point
17.1.1 Explanation of Key Terms
17.1.1.1
There are a number of terms used in this chapter that carry meanings
specific to their use in RDA. The meanings of a number of key terms are
explained under 17.1.2–17.1.3. Terms used as data element names in this
chapter are defined at the beginning of the instructions for the specific
element. In addition, all terms used in this chapter with a specific technical
meaning are defined in the glossary.
17.1.2 Work, Expression, Manifestation, and Item
17.1.2.1
The terms work, expression, manifestation, and item are used as follows:
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17-2
17.1.2.2
 The term work refers to a distinct intellectual or artistic creation (i.e.,
the intellectual or artistic content).
17.1.2.3
 The term expression refers to the intellectual or artistic realization of a
work in the form of alpha-numeric, musical or choreographic notation,
sound, image, object, movement, etc., or any combination of such
forms.
17.1.2.4
 The term manifestation refers to the physical embodiment of an
expression of a work.
17.1.2.5
 The term item refers to a single exemplar or instance of a
manifestation.
17.1.2.6
Each of the above terms should be read, where applicable, to include not
only an individual entity, but also aggregates and components of such
entities (i.e., the term work should be read to include aggregate works and
components of works as well as individual works, etc.).
17.1.3 Access Point
17.1.3.1
The terms access point and authorized access point are used as follows:
17.1.3.2
 The term access point refers to a name, term, code, etc., representing
a specific work or expression.
17.1.3.3
 The term authorized access point refers to the standardized access
point representing an entity. The authorized access point representing a
work or expression is constructed using the preferred title for the work
preceded by the authorized access point representing a person, family,
or corporate body responsible for the work, if appropriate.
17.2 Functional Objectives and Principles
17.2.1
The data recorded to reflect primary relationships should enable the user to:
a) find all resources that embody a particular work or a
particular expression
b) find all items that exemplify a particular manifestation.
17.2.2
To ensure that the data created using RDA meet those functional objectives,
the data should reflect the primary relationships.
17.3 Core Elements
17.3.1
When recording primary relationships, include as a minimum the work
manifested. If there is more than one expression of the work, record the
expression manifested.
17.3.2
If more than one work is embodied in the manifestation, only the
predominant or first-named work manifested is required.
17.3.3
If more than one expression is embodied in the manifestation, only the
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17-3
predominant or first-named expression manifested is required.
17.4 Recording Primary Relationships
Contents
17.4.1 Scope
17.4.2 Conventions Used to Record Primary Relationships
17.4.1 Scope
17.4.1.1
 Primary relationships are the relationships between a work,
expression, manifestation, and item that are inherent in the FRBR
definitions of those entities:
a) the relationship between a work and an expression through
which that work is realized
b) the relationship between an expression of a work and a
manifestation that embodies that expression
c) the relationship between a manifestation and an item that
exemplifies that manifestation.
17.4.1.2
 The relationship between a work and a manifestation that embodies that
work may also be recorded without identifying the expression through
which the work is realized (see 17.7 (manifestation of work) and 17.8
(work manifested)).
17.4.2 Conventions Used to Record Primary Relationships

Record primary relationships using one or more of the conventions
described under 17.4.2.1 (identifier), 17.4.2.2 (authorized access
point), or 17.4.2.3 (composite description), as applicable.
17.4.2.1
Identifier for the Work, Expression, Manifestation, or Item
17.4.2.1.1

Provide an identifier for the work, expression, manifestation, or item,
formulated according to the instructions given under 6.9 (identifiers for
works), 6.14 (identifiers for expressions), 2.15 (identifiers for
manifestations), or 2.19 (identifiers for items), as applicable.
ISWC: T-072.106.546-8
International Standard Musical Work Code for Cole Porter’s I
love Paris
VA 1-403-863 U.S. Copyright Office
Copyright registration number for State highway map of Minnesota
http://larvatusprodeo.net
URI for the blog Larvatus prodeo
ISBN 978-1-59688-083-2
ISBN for a large print manifestation of Joseph Conrad’s The
secret agent
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17.4.2.2
Authorized Access Point Representing the Work or Expression
17.4.2.2.1

Provide one or other of the following:
i) an authorized access point representing the work,
constructed according to the instructions given under
6.27.1–6.27.2.
United States. Constitution of the United
States
ii) an authorized access point representing the expression,
constructed according to the instructions given under
6.27.3.
United States. Constitution of the United
States. Lao
17.4.2.3
Composite Description
17.4.2.3.1

Prepare a composite description that combines one or more elements
identifying the work and/or expression with the description of the
manifestation.
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Sonatas, violin,
piano, no. 2, op. 12, no. 2, A major. Allegro
piacèvole
Divertimento, op. 12, no. 2 / L. van
Beethoven ; transcribed for woodwind by George
J. Trinkaus. — New York : M. Witmark, ©1933. —
Arranged for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, and
bassoon
Medium of performance of musical content—an attribute
of the expression—combined with the description of the
manifestation
17.5 Expression of Work
Contents
17.5.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression of a Work
17.5.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression of a
Work
Contents
17.5.1.1 Scope
17.5.1.2 Sources of Information
17.5.1.3 Recording an Expression of a Work
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17-5
17.5.1.1
Scope
17.5.1.1.1
 An expression of work is a realization of a work in the form of alphanumeric, musical or choreographic notation, sound, image, object,
movement, etc., or any combination of such forms.
17.5.1.2
Sources of Information
17.5.1.2.1

17.5.1.3
Recording an Expression of a Work
17.5.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between a work and an expression
of that work from any source.
Record an expression of a work applying the general guidelines on
recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Expression
Library and Archives Canada control number:
1011A775E
Identifier for Slovak translations of Margaret Atwood’s The
handmaid’s tale
Library of Congress control number: n 80008554
Identifier for English translations of Edmond de Goncourt’s Les
frères Zemganno
Library of Congress control number: no2008127532
Identifier for the Final cut version of the motion picture Blade
runner
Authorized Access Point Representing the Expression
Qur’an. Spoken word
Authorized access point representing the expression,
constructed by adding a term indicating the content type of the
expression to the authorized access point representing the work
United States. Constitution of the United States.
Lao
Authorized access point representing the expression,
constructed by adding a term indicating the language of the
expression to the authorized access point representing the work
Composite Description
Mercadante, Saverio, 1795-1870. Concertos,
clarinet, orchestra, op. 101, B♭ major; arranged
Concerto in si bemolle minore per clarinetto e
orchestra da camera / Saverio Mercadente ; revisione
di Giovanni Carli Ballola. — Milano : Editioni
Suvini Zerboni, ©1975. — Originally for clarinet and
chamber orchestra; this version a reduction for
clarinet and piano
Medium of performance of musical content of expression
combined with the description of the manifestation
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17-6
17.6 Work Expressed
Contents
17.6.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Work Expressed
17.6.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Work Expressed
Contents
17.6.1.1 Scope
17.6.1.2 Sources of Information
17.6.1.3 Recording the Work Expressed
17.6.1.1
Scope
17.6.1.1.1
 The work expressed is the work realized through an expression.
17.6.1.2
Sources of Information
17.6.1.2.1

17.6.1.3
Recording the Work Expressed
17.6.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between an expression and the
work realized through that expression from any source.
Record the work expressed applying the general guidelines on recording
primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Work
ISWC: T-010.190.038-2
International Standard Musical Word Code for Mozart’s Eine
kleine Nachtmusik
Library of Congress control number: n 80008555
Identifier for Edmond de Goncourt’s Les frères Zemganno
Authorized Access Point Representing the Work
Qur’an
United States. Constitution of the United States
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756–1791. Kleine
Nachtmusik
Straits times (Kuala Lampur, Malaysia)
Composite Description
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17-7
The three evangelists / Fred Vargas ; translated
from the French by Siân Reynolds. — London : Vintage
Books, 2006. — Translation of: Debout les morts
Original title of the work combined with the description of the
manifestation
17.7 Manifestation of Work
Contents
17.7.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of a Work
17.7.0 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of a
Work
Contents
17.7.1.1 Scope
17.7.1.2 Sources of Information
17.7.1.3 Recording a Manifestation of a Work
17.7.1.1
Scope
17.7.1.1.1
 A manifestation of work is a physical embodiment of an expression of
a work.
17.7.1.2
Sources of Information
17.7.1.2.1

17.7.1.3
Recording a Manifestation of a Work
17.7.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between a work and a
manifestation of that work from any source.
Record a manifestation of a work applying the general guidelines on
recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Manifestation
ISSN 1440-0960
ISSN for the online manifestation of Australasian journal of
dermatology
ISBN 978-1-59688-083-2
ISBN for a large print edition of Joseph Conrad’s The secret agent
Roadshow Entertainment: 1034539
Publisher number for a DVD manifestation of the 2001 motion
picture Ocean’s eleven
http://larvatusprodeo.net
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17-8
URI for the blog Larvatus prodeo
Composite Description
Babylon and golden city : representations of
London in Black and Asian British novels since the
1990s / Susanne Cuevas. — Heidelberg :
Universitätsverlag Winter, ©2008. — Thesis
(doctoral)—Technische Universität Dresden, 2007
Dissertation information about the work combined with the
description of the manifestation
Mongol Khans and their legacy / produced by the
Cartographic Division, National Geographic Society ;
John F. Shupe, chief cartographer. — Scale
1:18,500,000 ; orthographic projection (E 0°–E
180°/N 90°–N 0°). — Washington, D.C. : National
Geographic Society, © 1996. — Shows all of Asia:
west to Mediterranean Sea, east to Japan, north to
Arctic Ocean, and south to Java
Scale, projection, coordinates, and coverage of the content
combined with the description of the manifestation
17.8 Work Manifested
CORE ELEMENT
If more than one work is embodied in the manifestation, only the predominant or firstnamed work manifested is required.
Contents
17.8.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Work Manifested
17.8.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Work Manifested
Contents
17.8.1.1 Scope
17.8.1.2 Sources of Information
17.8.1.3 Recording a Work Manifested
17.8.1.1
Scope
17.8.1.1.1
 A work manifested is a work embodied in a manifestation.
17.8.1.2
Sources of Information
17.8.1.2.1

Take information on the relationship between a manifestation and a
work embodied in that manifestation from any source.
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17.8.1.3
Recording a Work Manifested
17.8.1.3.1

Record a work manifested applying the general guidelines on recording
primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Work
Library of Congress control number: n 80025571
Identifier for Joseph Conrad’s The secret agent
Authorized Access Point Representing the Work
Larvatus prodeo
Écho (Louiseville, Québec)
Ocean’s eleven (Motion picture : 2001)
Conrad, Joseph, 1857–1924. Secret agent
Schumann, Clara, 1819–1896. Scherzos, piano, no.
1, op. 10, D minor
Composite Description
Gabreilla’s Book of fire / Venero Armanno. — New
York : Hyperion, 2000. — Original title: Firehead
Original title of the work combined with the description of the
manifestation
17.9 Manifestation of Expression
Contents
17.9.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of an
Expression
17.9.1 Basic Instructions on Recording a Manifestation of an
Expression
Contents
17.9.1.1 Scope
17.9.1.2 Sources of Information
17.9.1.3 Recording a Manifestation of an Expression
17.9.1.1
Scope
17.9.1.1.1
 A manifestation of expression is a physical embodiment of an
expression.
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17.9.1.2
Sources of Information
17.9.1.2.1

17.9.1.3
Recording a Manifestation of an Expression
17.9.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between an expression and a
manifestation of that expression from any source.
Record a manifestation of an expression applying the general guidelines
on recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Expression
ISBN 99918-42-25-X
ISBN for a manifestation of a Faroese translation of
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
ISMN M-006-52070-1
ISMN for a printed manifestation of an expression of Mozart’s
Eine kleine Nachtmusik for string quartet
ISBN 1-85549-961-4
ISBN for a manifestation of a spoken word recording of
Dickens’s Bleak House
VCI Entertainment: 8202
Publisher number for a DVD manifestation of the motion picture
Uccello dale piume di cristallo, dubbed into English from the
original Italian
Library and Archives Canada control number:
910025029
Identifier for the 1989 manifestation of a German translation of
Alice Munro’s Who do you think you are?
Composite Description
My cousin, my husband : clans and kinship in
Mediterranean societies / Germaine Tillion ;
translated from the French by Quentin Hoare. —
London : Saqi Books, 2007. — Translation of: Le
harem et les cousins. Paris : Éditions du Seuil,
1966. This translation first published as The
republic of cousins
Variant title associated with the expression combined with the
description of the manifestation
17.10 Expression Manifested
CORE ELEMENT
Expression manifested is a core element if there is more than one expression of the
work manifested. If more than one expression is embodied in the manifestation, only
the predominant or first-named expression manifested is required.
Contents
RDA (Chapter 17) – Editorial text for RDA development (October 2009)
17-11
17.10.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression Manifested
17.10.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Expression
Manifested
Contents
17.10.1.1 Scope
17.10.1.2 Sources of Information
17.10.1.3 Recording an Expression Manifested
17.10.1.1
Scope
17.10.1.1.1
 An expression manifested is an expression embodied in a
manifestation.
17.10.1.2
Sources of Information
17.10.1.2.1

17.10.1.3
Recording an Expression Manifested
17.10.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between a manifestation and an
expression embodied in that manifestation from any source.
Record an expression manifested applying the general guidelines on
recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Expression
Library of Congress control number: n 2001092139
Identifier for Faroese translations of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Library of Congress control number: no2008110036
Identifier for the B-text version of William Langland’s Piers
Plowman
Authorized Access Point Representing the Expression
Dickens, Charles, 1812–1870. Bleak house. Spoken
word
Authorized access point representing the expression,
constructed by adding a term indicating the content type of the
expression to the authorized access point representing the work
Blade runner (Motion picture : Final cut)
Authorized access point representing the expression,
constructed by adding a term indicating another distinguishing
characteristic of the expression to the authorized access point
representing the work
Bacewicz, Grażyna. Sonatas, violin, no. 2;
arranged
Authorized access point representing the musical expression,
constructed by adding the term arranged to the authorized
access point representing the original work
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17-12
Composite Description
Keep swingin’ / Julian Priester. — Berkeley, CA :
Riverside, [1955]. — Place of capture: Reeves Sound
studios, New York City. — Date of capture: January
11, 1960. — Riverside: OJCCD-1863-2
Place and date of capture of the expression combined with the
description of the manifestation
Het officie van Antonius Eremita : critische
uitgave volgens Ms. Leeuwarden 6168hs / door een
team van candidate in de muziekwetenschap ; ingeleid
door H. Wagenaar-Nolthenius en J. Smits van
Waesberge. — Plainsong notation. — Utrecht :
Instituut voor Muziekwetenschap der
Rijksuniversiteit, 1975. — (Scripta musicological
Ultrajectina ; 5). — Text in Latin; commentary in
dutch; summary in English
Language of the content and form of notation of the expression
combined with the description of the manifestation
17.11 Exemplar of Manifestation
Contents
17.11.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Exemplar of the
Manifestation
17.11.1 Basic Instructions on Recording an Exemplar of the
Manifestation
Contents
17.11.1.1 Scope
17.11.1.2 Sources of Information
17.11.1.3 Recording an Exemplar of the Manifestation
17.11.1.1
Scope
17.11.1.1.1
 An exemplar of manifestation is a single exemplar or instance of a
manifestation.
17.11.1.2
Sources of Information
17.11.1.2.1

17.11.1.3
Recording an Exemplar of the Manifestation
17.11.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between a manifestation and an
exemplar of that manifestation from any source.
Record an exemplar of a manifestation applying the general guidelines
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on recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Item
YK2001.a.5815
British Library shelf mark for its copy of Michael Clarke’s The
concise Oxford dictionary of art terms
E887.C55 A3 2003 c.2
Washington State University Libraries call number for its second
copy of the 2003 Simon & Schuster printed manifestation of
Hilary Clinton’s Living history
Score M452.M69 K.525 1964
Griffith University Library call number for its copy of the 1964
manifestation of an expression of Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik
for string quartet
P780 Q5 M939 KLE
Monash University Library call number for its copy of the 2002
manifestation of the same expression of Mozart’s Eine kleine
Nachtmusik for string quartet
186831380
University of Washington Libraries integrated library system
item record number for a copy of a DVD manifestation of the
final cut expression of the motion picture Blade runner
39352069538890
University of Washington Libraries barcode number for the
same copy of a DVD manifestation of the final cut expression of
the motion picture Blade runner
Composite Description
Noah and the waters / C. Day Lewis. — London :
Published by Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth
Press, 1936. — Limited edition of 100 numbered
copies, signed by the author. Library’s copy is no.
80
Marks/inscriptions on the item combined with the description of
the manifestation
17.12 Manifestation Exemplified
Contents
17.12.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Manifestation
Exemplified
17.12.1 Basic Instructions on Recording the Manifestation
Exemplified
Contents
17.12.1.1 Scope
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17-14
17.12.1.2 Sources of Information
17.12.1.3 Recording the Manifestation Exemplified
17.12.1.1
Scope
17.12.1.1.1
 The manifestation exemplified is the manifestation exemplified by an
item.
17.12.1.2
Sources of Information
17.12.1.2.1

17.12.1.3
Recording the Manifestation Exemplified
17.12.1.3.1

Take information on the relationship between an item and the
manifestation exemplified by that item from any source.
Record the manifestation exemplified applying the general guidelines on
recording primary relationships given under 17.4.
Identifier for the Manifestation
British national bibliography number: GBA1-Z5901
Identifier for the 2001 print manifestation of Michael Clarke’s
The concise Oxford dictionary of art terms
Libraries Australia system control number:
000013619137
Identifier for the 1997 braille manifestation of an expression of
the score of Robert Schumann’s Carnaval
ISBN 978-0-8416-5457-0
ISBN for the large print manifestation of Chicagoland seven county
2007 street atlas
Composite Description
History of the Indian tribes of North America :
with biographical sketches and anecdotes of the
principal chiefs / embellished with one hundred and
twenty portraits, from the Indian Gallery in the
Department of War, at Washington ; by Thomas L.
M’Kenney and James Hall. — Philadelphia : Edward C.
Biddle, 1836- 1844. — Library’s copy once belonged
to Charles Dickens and has his personal bookplate
and a label that reads: “From the Library of Charles
Dickens, Gadshill Place, June 1870.”
Description of the manifestation combined with custodian
history
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