This document summarizes some of the key differences between RDA (Resource Description and Access) and AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules) standards for cataloging. Some of the main changes RDA makes are: preferring the language and script of the resource over English for elements like titles and names, using the form of dates, numerals, and abbreviations as they appear on the source rather than standardized forms, and removing some Anglocentric biases and abbreviations. The goal of RDA is to make cataloging standards more international and less biased toward English.

1. RDA
as an International Standard
Joanna Pszenicyn

2. Topics
Transliteration / transcription
Numerals
Dates
Units of measurement
Use of abbreviations
Capitalization

3. Summary
English
Roman alphabet
“Language and script
preferred by the
agency creating the
data”

4. AACR2: General introduction
“The rules contain some instances in which a
decision is made on the basis of language and
in which English is preferred. Users of the
rules who do not use English as their working
language should replace the specified
preference for English by a preference for their
working language. Authorized translations will
do the same.”

5. Titles
AACR2:
Predominant language
(if there is only one)
Original language (if
the work is in more
than one language)
Language that occurs
first (in the resource
content)
RDA:
In the language and
script of the “main
written, spoken, or
sung content of the
resource”

6. Names
AACR2:
well-established
English-language
form of the name
romanize
RDA:
First name only: use
form “well
established in
reference sources” or
transliterate
Surname + first
name: transliterate

7. LoC vs WorldCat

8. Numerals
AACR2
Generally use arabic
numerals (in the edition
statement, date of
publication, series
numberings...)
Special cases for roman
numerals (headings for
persons (rulers) and
some corporate bodies;
pages in phys. descript.)
Oriental numerals:
substitute for arabic
RDA:
Generally “in the
form in which they
appear on the
information source”
Optionally “in the
form preferred by the
agency”
(as a substitute or in addition)

10. Ordinal numbers
AACR2: RDA:
From an English-language
source:
1st
, 2nd
, 3rd
, etc.
In other languages:
1re
, 2ème
, 3ème
(French)
1o
/ 1a
, 2o
/ 2a
, 3o
/ 3a
(Italian)
Universal form:
1., 2., 3., etc.

11. Dates of publication
AACR2:
Give a year “in Western-
style arabic numerals”
RDA:
Generally “in the
form in which they
appear on the
information
source”
Optionally “in the
form preferred by
the agency”
(as a substitute or in addition)

12. Dates of birth/death
AACR2:
Give dates in terms
of the Christian era
Add B. C. where
appropriate
Give dates from
1582 on in terms of
the Gregrian
calendar
RDA:
+ Gregorian/Julian
date
Use abbreviations
A.D. & B.C.

13. Dates – decades, centuries
AACR2:
13th
/ 14th
cent.
Range of years:
[between 1906 and
1912]
Abbreviations:
b. – born, d. – dead,
fl. – flourished,
ca. – circa
RDA:
Century: [1800s]
Decade: [1970s]
Probable range of
decades:
[between 1840s and
1860s?]

14. Units of measurement
AACR2:
Dimensions:
metric units
RDA:
As in the source
Dimensions: metric
units (or preferred by
the agency)
Playing speeds: metric
or fps
(but analog tapes in inch ps)

15. Abbreviations
AACR2: RDA:
List of abbreviations
in Latin alphabet,
Cyrillic, Greek and
Hebrew

16. AACR2
Place of publication:
“If no place or probable place can be given, give
s.l. (sine loco), or its equivalent in a nonroman
script.”

17. Abbreviations?
"Where possible, Anglo-American bias in
instructions has been eliminated, and RDA
mandates the use of the language and script
preferred by the agency creating the record.
Abbreviations are replaced by spelt-out words
or phrases that may also be more accurate:
‘s.l.’ is replaced by statements such as ‘place
not recorded’ or ‘place not known’."
Chapman 2008

18. Abbreviations?
"Where possible, Anglo-American bias in
instructions has been eliminated, and RDA
mandates the use of the language and script
preferred by the agency creating the record.
Abbreviations are replaced by spelt-out words
or phrases that may also be more accurate:
‘s.l.’ is replaced by statements such as ‘place
not recorded’ or ‘place not known’."
Chapman 2008

20. Capitalization
Names of deities:
Allah .. Zeus
Religions/denominations:
Anglicanism .. Zoroastrianism
Scriptures:
Holy Bible

21. Capitalization
Names of deities:
Allah .. Zeus
Religions/denominations:
Anglicanism .. Zoroastrianism
Scriptures:
Holy Bible

22. Capitalization
A.19B. Names of Satan
A.19B1. Capitalize a word specifically describing
Satan:
the Devil; His Satanic Majesty; Lucifer
but
a devil; devilled eggs; the devil's advocate

23. Sources
1. Ann Chapman (2008). RDA: A Cataloguing
Code for the 21st
Century, Update Magazine,
Sept. 2008
2.Michele Seikel (2009). No More Romanizing:
The Attempt to Be Less Anglocentric in RDA.
Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 47, p.
741-748.
3. AACR2, 2nd
ed., 1988 revision
4. RDA Constituency Draft

24. Thank You.
j.pszenicyn
[@student.uw.edu.pl]