1. Networked Resources and Metadata Interest Group Diane I. Hillmann Research Librarian Cornell University Library

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3. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 20073 RDA Element Vocabulary RDA Value Vocabularies RDA Guidance Instruction RDA Moves Forward

4. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 20074 An RDA Element Vocabulary Separates elements (attributes/properties) from the instructions for application Provides definitions, relationships between elements and sub-elements that can be exposed to humans and machines Will explicitly include FRBR and its entities as defined relationships

5. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 20075 What Would an RDA Element Vocabulary Include? Element names, e.g.: Title proper URIs--persistent and unambiguous references to the term and its structure Definitions--ensuring semantic understanding Relationships--providing a blueprint for processing and inference History of term changes

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8. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 20078 Why is This Important? Formal representation will break down the ‘silo’ around library data, making it understandable by others--whether human or machine FRBR relationships (and other relationships) can be incorporated explicitly, providing needed clarity in expressing and exploring bibliographic relationships Within such a structure, extensibility becomes far easier

9. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 20079 RDA Guidance Instruction This is the part we usually think of as the “content standard” Instruction is provided at several levels, from general to detailed More than one level allows user communities a choice about how they want to use the instruction, without significantly affecting the outcome

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11. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200711 Why is This Important? Guidance instruction at more than one level opens the door to users who are not traditional librarians but wish to take advantage of what librarians know about description Extension by specialized communities is easier when there are general level instructions that may be used to provide alternate “forks” to describe their materials

12. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200712 RDA Value Vocabularies RDA (like AACR2 and MARC21) is loaded with controlled vocabularies Controlled vocabularies need to be formally expressed to be effectively used, reused, and extended (as the major legacy vocabularies already are in some respects) –Recent RDA/ONIX joint effort a step in the right direction –An example: RDA Carrier VocabularyRDA Carrier Vocabulary

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17. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200717 An RDA Application Profile Provides documentation of community understanding and intent: What is being described? What are the key relationships? Documents obligations and constraints for RDA instance metadata Provides guidance for semantic crosswalks, specifications, tools/applications and encodings Serves as primary documentation for decisions and criteria by which a specific set of metadata was created Specifies appropriate controlled vocabularies and syntax encoding schemes

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20. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200720 Why is This Important? An Application Profile using the RDA Element Vocabulary provides a sound basic structure for re-thinking library applications Specialized communities can express their needs using a related AP, reusing as much as they wish of the RDA Element Vocabulary Particular community needs for extension can be accommodated within a common structure and understood and re-used by others

21. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200721 Effects on RDA Development? Allows emerging structure to be more easily used to test data assumptions and instructional clarity Allows specialized usage to evolve within an interoperable framework Does not tie RDA to any specific encoding Does not constrain the historic complexity of traditional library data

22. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200722 Moving Forward Task Force has been established under the aegis of DCMI (co-chaired by Gordon Dunsire and Diane Hillmann) Funding being sought to support timely effort towards completion of goals Important issues still on the table, but the participants are continuing to work towards resolution

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26. June 24, 2007ALA Annual 200726 Thank you Questions? Diane I. Hillmann Cornell University Library dih1@cornell.edu