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<p>Before August 1, the RSC Rare Materials Working Group will turn to this list for input on any proposals or discussion papers it submits for review in the 2016 cycle (the current tasks are listed here: <a href="http://www.rda-rsc.org/sites/all/files/RSC-Chair-16-2016.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk909439" title="http://www.rda-rsc.org/sites/all/files/RSC-Chair-16-2016.pdf
Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link">http://www.rda-rsc.org/sites/all/files/RSC-Chair-16-2016.pdf</a>).
One of the WG's current tasks is a review of RDA's instructions for "early printed resources."</p>
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<p>There's a tentative agreement among members of the WG that a number of RDA's exceptions and alternatives for early printed resources need not be limited to *early* resources. Some of these instructions are applicable (and useful) in the description of rare
materials from any period. For all of the following, for example, we might remove the limitation on *early*:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38; background-color: transparent;">1.8 Number</span><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38; background-color: transparent;">s
Expressed as Numerals or Words -- 1 alternative</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38; background-color: transparent;">3.4.5 Extent of Te</span><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38; background-color: transparent;">xt
-- 6 exceptions</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38; background-color: transparent;">3.12 Book Format</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">3.21.2.9 Note on extent, early printed resources</span></p>
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<p>If we pursue such changes in RDA, the challenge is to define a category and label to replace "early printed resources," where appropriate. For label, so far we've done no better than "printed special collections resources," a phrase far from loved on the
WG. The definition also presents a challenge, once we lose the chronological emphasis. A circular reference (as in "any resource an agency decides to treat as special collections") is probably not desirable.</p>
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<p>I'm keen to hear all suggestions, including those rejecting the premise (if you like).</p>
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<p>Francis</p>
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