[DCRM-L] DCRMB vs BSR rda/dcrmb

[Deborah J. Leslie]

At the Folger, we use standard (unadulterated) DCRM(B).  I do add/accept the 33x fields—my understanding is that although they’re required in RDA records, having them in non-RDA records does not violate DCRM standards—and have been making small adjustments in notes, like spelling out words instead of abbreviating them (e.g., “title page” or “manuscript” instead of “t.p.” or “ms.”)

I’ve thought about switching to RDA/BSR-compliant DCRM(B), especially since the BSR provisions for rare materials make the RDA-compliant DCRM(B) record very much like a classic DCRM(B) record. However, my work with the DCRM2 Task Force has given me more insight into how unstable RDA still is. For example, if Alan Danskin's proposal to separate transcription from recording information for production, publication, distribution, and manufacture information http://rda-jsc.org/6JSC/BL%20rep/1 is accepted, it will significantly change the way this information is recorded, and has potential ramifications for all elements containing transcribed data. [Matt, do you know the status of this? I couldn't find outcomes for the 2015 spring  meeting on the JSC website.]

I advise rare materials catalogers not to create RDA/DCRM records unless they must (e.g., they're in an RDA-only shop), or it's simply more convenient (e.g., they come to DCRM with experience in RDA). Partly for pedagogical reasons—I've found that it's counter-productive to try to teach someone RDA in my rare book cataloging course if they're not already experienced with it; partly for practical reasons—why go through the disruptions of education, training, and documentation for an interim product?

Make no mistake: I'm a big fan of RDA conceptually, but practically, RDA in a MARC environment is an ungainly, partially-evolved beast.

Deborah J. Leslie | Folger Shakespeare Library | djleslie at folger.edu | 202.675-0369 | 201 East Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003 | www. folger.edu


From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Maxwell
Sent: Thursday, 16 July 16 2015 15:10
To: DCRM Users' Group
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] DCRMB vs BSR rda/dcrmb

Catalogers who had a problem with the “cumbersome statement of extent in the 300” must be misunderstanding the rare provisions of the BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) (what Will is calling the “BIBCO rda/dcrmb option”) which explicitly says:

Extent (RDA 3.4) Rare materials: apply Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM) conventions when recording extent; however, do not use abbreviations.

So if you code the record both “rda” and “dcrmb” there is no “cumbersome statement of extent.” At least no more cumbersome than DCRM itself.

We do all our rare cataloging at BYU following the BSR, and code the records both “rda” and “dcrmb”. I personally have not found it to be difficult or more time consuming or limiting in any way. I also point out that, given PCC’s requirement that all BIBCO records be cataloged using RDA now, following the BSR is the only option if you wish to do PCC cataloging of rare materials.

The BSR is available at http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/bibco/bsr-maps.html.

Bob

Robert L. Maxwell
Ancient Languages and Special Collections Librarian
6728 Harold B. Lee Library
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
(801)422-5568

"We should set an example for all the world, rather than confine ourselves to the course which has been heretofore pursued"--Eliza R. Snow, 1842.

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of Will Evans
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2015 12:56 PM
To: DCRM Users' Group
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] DCRMB vs BSR rda/dcrmb

I’ve received about a half dozen responses, almost all of which have stated they are adhering to strict AACR2/dcrmb principles. The reasons not to switch to the BIBCO rda/dcrmb option vary. Limited resources, the potentially cumbersome statement of extent in the 300, and potentially problematical teasing out of imprint information into the various 264 fields are a few.

Someone kindly pointed to the results of a straw poll taken at the 2014 Annual meeting of the Technical Services Discussion Group, which puts the breakdown at about 50/50.

http://rbms.info/files/committees/minutes/2014/techservminutes14a.pdf

Full disclosure-I posed the question to the list out of a sense of insecurity. We’ve made the decision to stick to the unadulterated dcrmb for our rare books until DCRM2 comes long, but I was beginning to feel that we were a lone-wolf or too old school in our thinking. While we’ve given thought to the potential problems listed above, the main reason behind our decision is based on the notion that consistency of description will ultimately pay off, if and when we have to migrate our data to BIBFRAME or whatever standard ultimately emerges.

Thanks to all who responded.

Best,
Will

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu>] On Behalf Of Deborah J. Leslie
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2015 2:11 PM
To: 'DCRM Users' Group'
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] DCRMB vs BSR rda/dcrmb

Will, have you had many responses? I’m of the mind that such a discussion is highly relevant to this list, rather than clogging it up.

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of Will Evans
Sent: Tuesday, 14 July 14 2015 11:31
To: DCRM Revision Group List
Subject: [DCRM-L] DCRMB vs BSR rda/dcrmb

Does anyone have a sense as to how many of us are adhering to unadulterated dcrmb as opposed to the BIBCO Standard Record rda/dcrmb option for rare books?
Anyone know of any surveys? Empirical evidence? Hunches?
If your are of a mind to respond, perhaps contact me directly, so as not to clog up the list.
Thanks
Will


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Will Evans

Chief Rare Materials Catalog Librarian

Library of the Boston Athenaeum

10 1/2 Beacon Street

Boston, MA   02108



Tel:  617-227-0270 ext. 224

Fax: 617-227-5266

www.bostonathenaeum.org<http://www.bostonathenaeum.org/>



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