Guest Editor: Yuji Tosaka, Ph.D., M.L.I.S.
Cataloging/Metadata Librarian
The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
RDA: Resource Description & Access has arrived at a time when libraries are at a crossroads. New information technologies have created uncertainty about their role in a rapidly changing environment, while they also create opportunities to produce robust metadata to support vastly improved discovery services for library users and other
information seekers at large.
The goal of this special issue of the Journal of Library Metadata is to offer both LIS researchers and practitioners a much-needed primer exploring the possibilities of cataloging and information access under RDA. We invite articles that address current issues, trends, research, and purposeful experimentation relating to, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Evaluation of RDA as a practical application of the FRBR model
• Evaluation of RDA’s ability to provide a flexible and extensible framework for describing all types of content and media in the digital environment; RDA and special formats cataloging; the role of cataloger’s judgment under RDA
• RDA and user analysis; evaluation of RDA’s “responsiveness to user needs”
• RDA and “cost efficiency”; RDA’s impacts on cataloging production and operations
• Using RDA with other metadata standards; interoperability issues with different communities of practice; evaluation of RDA’s “flexibility” as a content standard that can be usable for other, non-library metadata
communities
• Evaluation of new RDA elements, instructions, and vocabularies
• RDA and MARC standards; RDA in a post-MARC environment
• RDA and OPAC display issues; RDA and next-generation catalogs
• RDA implementation and training issues in different library sectors; catalogers’ transition from AACR2; practitioners’ views on the new cataloging code
• Internationalization of RDA; reception and implementation of RDA in an international context
• Development of new tools, resources, and services to manage and leverage RDA and legacy catalog data
• Evaluation of the standards development process for RDA, RDA’s openness as a technical standard
• Analysis of RDA in the historical context; comparison of AACR2 and RDA as cataloging codes; RDA’s continuities and discontinuities with cataloging traditions
Submission:
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit a proposal (approximately 500 words) including a problem statement, problem significance, objectives, methodology, and conclusions (or tentative conclusions for work in progress). The proposal should also include author’s name, professional affiliation, and e-mail address. Only
unpublished, original work will be considered. Proposals must be received by April 15, 2014. Full manuscripts (4000-7000 words) are expected to be submitted by July 20, 2014. All submitted manuscripts will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Please forward inquiries and proposal submissions electronically to the guest editor
at tosaka@tcnj.edu
The Journal of Library Metadata is the exclusive forum for the latest research, innovations, news, and expert views about all aspects of metadata applications in libraries and about the role of metadata in information retrieval. This focused journal comprehensively discusses practical, applicable information that libraries can effectively use in their own information discovery environments. Specialized knowledge, the latest technology, and top research are presented pertaining specifically to evolving metadata use in libraries. More information
about the Journal of Library Metadata can be found online at http://www.tandfonline.com/loi
