Select Preferred Descriptive Cataloging

Select Preferred Descriptive Cataloging

In Library Manager, you can convert MARC records from Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) to Resource Description and Access (RDA). MARC records in RDA format include three tags: 

• Content types (336): Shows form of communication in which content is expressed; for example, notated music, performed music, or two-dimensional moving image.
• Media types (337): Shows type of device required to access the content; for example, audio, video, or computer.
• Carrier types (338): Shows storage format; for example, audio disc, video disc, or online resource.

To change your preferred descriptive cataloging:

1. Log in as a district user.
2. Click District.
3. Select Admin > Configuration. The Configuration page appears.
4. For the Preferred Descriptive Cataloging Form, click Edit. The Preferred Descriptive Cataloging Form page appears.
5. Select either:
   • AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloging Rules)
   • RDA (Resource Description and Access)
6. Click Save.

Additional RDA Details

If the Preferred Descriptive Cataloging Form is RDA, you will see the these changes:

• A Convert button appears on the Title Details and MARC View page of each AACR2 record for users with access to edit titles.
• The tags in the MARC Editor are updated to align with RDA.
• In the Leader, the Cataloging Form, position 18, changes from a = AACR2 to i = ISBD punctuation included.
• An 040 tag appears, with rda in _e. The _e is repeatable.
• A 264 tag appears in place of the 260 tag. Depending on the information in the 260, there might be more than one 264 tag.
• The 336, 337, and 338 tags appear, containing content appropriate for the material type. If you need to change the content, you can select the subfield content from lists. Since these are closed lists, there is no free form text entry for these fields.
• The Easy Editor is updated to align with RDA. The RDA Types tab lets you manage the 336, 337, and 338 tags. This tab appears for any RDA record, even if your district did not select RDA as the preferred form.
• On the Title Details page, the information in the 336, 337, and 338 tags moves from the Additional Info section to the Publication Info section.

Tags for RDA Preference

The following RDA bibliographic tags are included in the templates for customers who prefer the RDA cataloging form. These three tags contain complete words instead of codes or abbreviations that more fully describe the content, media, and carrier:

• 336 tag, RDA Content Type (R), expands on the Form of Item, position 6 of the Leader/06.
• 337 tag, RDA Media Type (R), expands on the Category of material, position 00 of the 007, Physical Description.
• 338 tag, RDA Carrier Type (R), expands on the Specific material designation, position 01 of the 007, Physical Description. Catalogers can define carrier characteristics further in these 344, 345, 346, and 347 tags.

When a cataloger begins to create a record, selecting the material type, and subtype if necessary, Destiny enters the appropriate content as shown below. The cataloger can change the content by selecting from the list provided. For these fields, there is no free-form text entry.

The other rules are as follows:

• The 336 and 338 are mandatory; the 337 is optional.
• All three tags are repeatable.
• Both indicators are undefined for all three tags.

Following are the default values for each material type: