RDA for machines Gordon Dunsire Presentation to CC:DA meeting, ALA Midwinter 2014, Philadelphia, Pa, 25 Jan 2014

Overview  RDA carrier/media and content types  RDA/ONIX Framework  Extending and refining carrier and content categories  Machine-actionability and extent

User requirements I want images of Philadelphia I want some text by Michelle Obama I want digital information about Philadelphia I want 35 mm projector slides of Obama’s inauguration Photographs, paintings, drawings... Printed word, manuscripts, braille... Images, text, movies... Images, text... Content Carrier

Information objects  The same content is held on different carriers  Image on photographic print, projector slide, online file, CD-ROM, DVD...  Painted image on photographic print...  One carrier can hold many types of content  CD-ROM containing still images, moving images, sound, computer programs...  Digital environment increases range of available content and (digital) carriers

RDA content/carrier types  Controlled vocabularies  Content: “spoken word”, “still image”...  Carrier: “volume”, “computer disc”...  RDA Media type is a generalization of Carrier type  “Unmediated”, “computer”...  Vocabulary terms are high-level labels for combinations of low-level attributes  Low-level attributes identified by RDA/ONIX framework for resource categorization

RDA/ONIX framework  Developed in collaboration with the publishing industry  ONIX: Online Information Exchange  Content and carrier categories important for managing intellectual property right, royalty payments, manufacturing, distribution, sales  Identifies attributes defining categories of content and carrier  “Base” categories determine basic categories

Base content categories  Attribute set:  Character (C)  Sensory mode (S)  Image dimensionality (D)  Image movement (M)  Each attribute has its own controlled vocabulary of values  Each category assigns a value to each attribute

Base content category examples  “still image”  Character = “image”; Sense = “sight”; Dimension = “two-dimensional”; Movement = “still”  “spoken word”  C = “language”; S = “hearing”; D = “not applicable”; M = “not applicable”  “computer dataset”  C = “other”; S = “none”; D = “not applicable”; M = “not applicable”

Base carrier categories  Attribute set:  Storage medium (M)  Housing format (H)  Intermediation tool (D)  Each attribute has its own controlled vocabulary of values  Each category assigns a value to each attribute

Base carrier category examples  “volume”  Medium = “sheet”; Housing = “binding”; Device = “not required”  “computer disc”  M = “disc”; H = “not applicable”; D = “computer”  “videocassette”  M = “roll”; H = “cassette”; D = “audiovisual player”

Beyond base categories  “Qualified categories” can be differentiated by other attributes identified in the Framework  Content: Capture method; Form or genre...  Carrier: Base material; Encoding format...  In RDA, many of these other attributes are assigned directly to (Work)/Expression or Manifestation/(Item)  Not encapsulated in a Framework category  But still require controlled values (for filtering)  Categories can also be qualified by adding sub- values to the attribute vocabularies

RDA qualified categories  RDA intends to use both ways of qualifying Framework base categories  “Form or genre” attribute contains local, RDA- specified values:  “cartographic” and “computer”  Qualified categories: “cartographic image”...  “Intermediation tool” attribute contains RDA sub- values:  “aperture card reader”, “microfiche reader”...  Qualified categories; “aperture card”...

Utility of the Framework categories  User: what resources have content I can listen to?  = OPAC: what RDA content types have SensoryMode = “Hearing”?  = “Spoken word”; “Performed music”...  Answer: Bibliographic metadata records with these content types  User: I want images of Philadelphia  Answer: Search filtered by SensoryMode = “Sight”

“term for content type” Expression has content type Content TypeImage DimensionalitySensory Mode Character Image Movement has character has sensory mode has image dimensionality has image movement RDA Content type has label

Manifestation has carrier type Carrier TypeIntermediation ToolHousing Format Storage Medium has storage medium has housing format has intermediation tool has media type RDA Carrier type and Media type “extent statement” has extent “number” “unit/subunit” Extent has unit has quantity

“number” “unit/subunit” Extent has unit has quantity “number” “unit/subunit” Duration has unit has quantity “aspect” has aspect Aspect, Unit, Quantity e.g. duration e.g. 27 e.g. minutes

Unit “diagram” “map” “cartographic image” “atlas” ??? “score” “vocal score” “condensed score” “painting” “photograph” “illustrations” “photographs”

Thank you! 