Forwarded from Autocat. I have been in offlist discussions with Deborah, and suggested that she join this list.
Mac -------- Forwarded message -------- To all Catalogers/Librarians: Frank Newton recently posted to OCLC-CAT (see his complete email below), neatly summarizing many people's concerns with RDA and its treatment of the authority file. He wrote: "The possibility for compromises exists, but only if the people who oppose the version of RDA which we have as of today can unite first on a handful of principles for modifying the RDA status quo, and second on a set of particular wordings for those principles which, like the original Bill of Rights, will command respect, and be shortly codified into a revised RDA, or so officially enacted that they prevent people from interpreting RDA without reference to its amendments." I believe that time is running out for any organized opposition to RDA, from those who either want it altered or abolished; certainly, by April of next year, if not earlier, it will be a fait accompli. So I am now proposing that the opposition organize, and influence RDA while we possibly still can. Here are some things that I believe we might need: 1. A listserv for discussion/goal setting 2. A wiki for publicly hosting and editing documents/principles 3. Some form of informal governance (so that we won't debate forever and pass our deadline for action--simple majority rules, perhaps?) 4. A method of commanding respect from the powers that be (ALA, LC, etc.) so that our comments will be taken seriously Perhaps someone more tech-savvy than I could set up the first two, and then interested parties could organize (on or off-list) and get started on principles/goals--first being, I suppose, whether to try to modify RDA (on authorities, or more broadly), or undermine it completely and demand a moratorium on its adoption. And anyone who might be an "insider", or know an "insider", with the powers that be could give us some insight into how to make them listen: form committees under their auspices? Conduct user research that challenges the underpinnings of RDA/FRBR? Write papers? Host symposia? Twitter about it? Never having done this thing before, I'm hoping for lots of grassroots ideas and support, particularly from the libraries that would be disenfranchised should RDA be accepted (small libraries, libraries with vanishing budgets, etc.). Shall we play David to the RDA Goliath? I'll be curious to see if we can muster a critical mass of support for change. Deborah Tomaras, NACO Coordinator Librarian II Western European Languages Team New York Public Library Library Services Center 31-11 Thomson Ave. Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 (917) 229-9561 dtoma...@nypl.org
