The RDA Steering Committee (RSC) is responsible for maintaining RDA: Resource Description and Access.
RDA is a package of data elements, guidelines, and instructions for creating library and cultural heritage resource metadata that are well-formed according to international models for user-focussed linked data applications.
RDA: Resource Description and Access was developed by the RDA Steering Committee (formerly the Joint Steering Committee in for the Development of RDA) as part of its strategic plan (2005-2009) to replace the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition Revised, which were first published in 1978.
RDA is a package of data elements, guidelines, and instructions for creating library and cultural heritage resource metadata that are well-formed according to international models for user-focussed linked data applications.
Details of how to subscribe to the RDA Toolkit can be found on the publisher’s website.
RDA: Resource Description and Access is developed in a collaborative process led by the RDA Steering Committee. RSC gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the many institutions and individuals who have generously given their time and energies to the creation of RDA.
The RDA text is strictly the copyright of the American Library Association (ALA), the Canadian Federation of Library Associations/La Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothéques (CFLA) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
Translations must be licensed by the Copyright Holders. ALA Digital Publishing handles translation licenses on behalf of the Copyright Holders, and any enquiries should be sent to James Hennelly, Director, ALA Digital Reference.
RDA is published by:
- The American Library Association
- The Canadian Federation of Library Associations
- CILIP: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
For information on subscribing to RDA, see the RDA Toolkit site.
RDA is published in English, Catalan, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, and Spanish; several other translations are in progress. For information about translating RDA, contact James Hennelly, ALA Publishing.
The first step in the transition from the former Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA (JSC) to the RDA Steering Committee began on November 6, 2015; the transition will occur in stages. The regions to be represented on the RDA Steering Committee are the following:
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- North America
- Oceania
In addition to representatives from these regions, the RSC includes a chair, secretary, RDA examples editor, RDA technical team liaison officer, RDA translations team liaison officer, and wider community engagement officer. By 2019 there will be one RSC representative per region. The current roster of RSC members, including the current liaisons with bodies managing standards related to RDA and other groups, can be viewed here.
The RSC also has agreements with the groups listed below. The agreement between RSC and each other group is a a “lightweight” protocol requiring the two groups to communicate plans for changes to the relevant standards; the agreement is often supported by a list of shared and unilateral documents.
- IFLA Bibliographic Conceptual Models Review Group (RSC/Chair/12)
- IFLA ISBD Review Group (RSC/Chair/5)
- ISSN International Centre (RSC/Chair/13)
- LC Network Development and MARC Standards Office (RSC/Chair/15)
Learn more about RDA.
Join the RDA-L discussion group at lists.ala.org/sympa/info/rda-l.
Proposals for revisions to RDA may be submitted for consideration by the RDA Steering Committee.
For a description of the process, including information on how to submit proposals and discussion papers,