Cataloging Checks for RDA in MARC

Version 236 of MARC Report, includes about 30 new cataloging checks that support RDA in MARC.

Most of these cataloging checks are designed to validate the codes and terms destined for the 336, 337, and 338 fields.

In this and future versions, the application of these cataloging checks will be controlled by a new 'Description Rules' option on the 'Cataloging Checks' page:

In the new 'Description rules support' section, there are three choices.
If you select:

• AACR only – all records will be considered 'AACR in MARC', no RDA-specific catchecks will be run, and where RDA and AACR instructions conflict, AACR instructions will be followed. With this option selected, if an RDA record is being viewed/edited, a warning message will always appear.
• AACR + RDA (the default) – the usual AACR catchecks will be run on each record viewed or edited. In addition, if 040 $e = 'rda', any available RDA catchecks will be run on the record.
• RDA only – all records will be considered 'RDA in MARC', none of the AACR-specific catchecks will be run, and only the RDA cataloging checks will be run; where RDA and AACR instructions conflict, RDA instructions will be followed.

Important

No changes to the cataloging checks have been made in version 236 to account for differences in punctuation and abbreviations between AACR and RDA. These changes will occur in a future version.

Notes

• 'AACR-specific' catchecks will check that the contents of fields or subfields conform to AACR instructions (e.g., GMD terms, prescribed abbreviations).

• RDA-specific' catchecks will check that the contents of fields or subfields conform to RDA instructions (e.g., do not use Latin abbreviations, spell out all abbreviations, do not use GMDs, etc.)

• The same MARC validation (the 'blue' messages in MARC Report) apply to both types of records. If an element is defined in MARC21, then it is validated.

• Many cataloging checks will apply to both types of records (e.g., indicator checking, 008 values corresponding to variable field info, punctuation and spacing, etc.)