I am a RDA novice, as well, and find this discussion illustrative. My understanding is that RDA was written (in part) to facilitate atomicity of data and for use in databases that can fully exploit data relationships. This is the rationale for format neutrality, the assumption being that in a fully implemented atomic data/relational Db encoding schema, issues like punctuation can be handled by display. RDA's format neutrality makes sense when we are contemplating a non-MARC encoding environment (as I presume the authors of RDA have been and are presently contemplating). From the standpoint of encoding in MARC, however, it makes much less sense, since MARC functions much more like a mark-up language than a relational database language, and punctuation is central to way the semantics of various fields work. For the near future, while we are all still working in MARC, providing examples of data entry in the Toolkit for various RDA elements using punctuation that does not conform to the standard (ISBD) adopted by the cataloging community will only generate confusion, particularly for those new to cataloging.
Cary T. Isley Catalog & Metadata Librarian Tulsa Community College On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 11:29 AM, McRae, Rick <rmc...@esm.rochester.edu>wrote: > Thanks to all who have responded thus far.**** > > As a RDA novice, following this discussion, while consulting the toolkit, > related web resources and as many examples via OCLC as I can consult; it’s > still rather on the confusing side, as you may imagine. My use of the term > “mixed message” was a tad harsh, but having seen some RDA records with 511 > fields following ISBD and others not doing so, a question comes up: If I > close up the space before a semicolon between performers, am I correctly > interpreting an RDA dictate? Or am I exercising an option not to follow > ISBD? On the other hand, if I keep a space open, am I incorrectly > disregarding an RDA example? Or am I exercising the option to apply ISBD to > 511 ?**** > > Thanks—**** > > Rick**** > > ** ** > > Rick McRae**** > > Catalog / Reference Librarian**** > > Sibley Music Library**** > > Eastman School of Music**** > > (585) 274-1370**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and Access > [mailto:RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA] *On Behalf Of *McRae, Rick > *Sent:* Thursday, November 01, 2012 9:44 AM > *To:* RDA-L@LISTSERV.LAC-BAC.GC.CA > *Subject:* [RDA-L] punctuation in 511 notes**** > > ** ** > > Greetings:**** > > I wonder if the apparent contradiction between the examples found in > 7.23.1.3, “Recording Performers, Narrators and/or Presenters” which are > represented in the 511 field, and the punctuation rule expressed in > Appendix D.1.2.1: “Precede each mark of prescribed punctuation by a space > and follow it by a space..” The aforementioned examples clearly disregard > this. **** > > **** > > I’m not losing sleep about this or anything, but it is a quandary of > sorts, and it would be good to hear how others resolve this seemingly mixed > message.**** > > ** ** > > Thank you and best regards,**** > > Rick McRae**** > > Catalog / Reference Librarian**** > > Sibley Music Library**** > > Eastman School of Music**** > > (585) 274-1370**** > > ** ** >
