First, Kelley's original question was about what the correct Media Type should be for streaming video according to the instructions in RDA.
In RDA, there is a relationship between Media Type and Carrier Type. The list of Carrier Types in 3.3.1.3 is divided into groups with captions that refer implicitly to the Media Type terms. This is based on the RDA/ONIX Framework for Resource Categorization; the attribute that defines Media Type is one of the attributes that defines Carrier Type. For any given Carrier Type there is one and only one appropriate Media Type. Therefore, if the Carrier Type for streaming video is "online resource," then the Media Type is "computer" because "online resource" is listed as a "Computer carrier". [Note: One of the reasons why Media Type is not a core element in RDA is that the Media Type can always be deduced from the Carrier Type, and therefore there may be no need to record it explicitly.] The RDA Media Type is a general term identifying a category of storage media, based on the type of intermediation tool required; it has nothing to do with the type of files stored on the carrier or with the type of content stored in those files. As John says, most users will make an inevitable leap from the media term to a related content term, and this is one of the challenges in using Media Type. However, RDA is clear that Media Type has nothing to do with content. This said, I agree with Kelley that the distinction between audio, video, and computer intermediation tools is becoming increasingly unclear. All three are based on some sort of microprocessor, and the specific carriers (e.g., discs) are likely to work in more than one type of machine. This is a challenge for the RDA/ONIX Framework, and something that will need to be addressed by future development of the Framework. For background, see the "RDA/ONIX Framework for Resource Categorization" [5JSC/Chair/10]: http://www.rda-jsc.org/docs/5chair10.pdf Any discussion of changes to the RDA Content Type, Media Type, or Carrier Type terms needs to begin with a consideration of the Framework. John Attig ALA Representative to the Joint Steering Committee [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- | From: "Kelley McGrath" <[email protected]> | To: [email protected] | Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 7:06:40 PM | Subject: Re: [RDA-L] Media type for streaming video | OLAC is in the process of updating its streaming media best practices | to be RDA-compatible so it's coming soon. | I do think there is something fundamentally wrong with the computer | media type and have thought so since the days when we were | commenting on the RDA drafts. There is nothing intrinsically | different between a DVD-ROM with an ebook or software on it and a | DVD video in terms of the physical carrier. Is there a difference | between streaming MP3 files and those on a CD? Are the MP3 files on | a CD like the streaming ones (probably computer) or like a regular | audio CD (audio)? Under AACR2, LC made the former decision and said | MP3 CDs were electronic resources. This was based on the fact that | they didn't play in standalone players initially, although over time | they started to sell CD players that would play MP3 CDs. The line | that we have historically tried to draw between what plays in a | standalone player and what needs a "computer" doesn't make much | sense anymore. I have argued before for a digital/analog divide. | Others in OLAC share my concerns, although there is less consensus | about the solution. | Kelley | On Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 2:01 PM, John Hostage | <[email protected]> wrote: | > I was cataloging one of these the other day and faced the same | > conundrum. I turned to the OLAC best practices document | > (http://www.olacinc.org/drupal/?q=node/47) which is several years | > old and needs to be updated for RDA and the new fields, but is | > still useful. | > | > Following the definitions of the attributes in RDA, I came up with | > the same 33X fields as you did. The trouble is that for the | > average person, "video" is nearly synonymous with "two-dimensional | > moving image," i.e. it denotes a content type rather than a media | > type. For a media type, "digital" would probably be more | > enlightening than either "computer" or "electronic". While we're | > at it, why do we generally not take account of the sound aspects | > of a 2-dimensional moving image, which can be sounds, spoken word, | > and/or performed music? | > | > In a world where everything is stored digitally and used on a | > digital device, these categories are going to get very blurry. | > | > ------------------------------------------ | > John Hostage | > Authorities and Database Integrity Librarian Harvard | > Library--Information and Technical Services Langdell Hall 194 | > Cambridge, MA 02138 [email protected] | > +(1)(617) 495-3974 (voice) | > +(1)(617) 496-4409 (fax) | > | >> -----Original Message----- | >> From: Resource Description and Access / Resource Description and | >> Access [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kelley | >> McGrath | >> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 11:38 | >> To: [email protected] | >> Subject: [RDA-L] Media type for streaming video | >> | >> I had always assumed that the 33x fields for streaming video | >> should | >> look like this due to the online nature of the resource: | >> | >> 336 __ $a two-dimensional moving image $2 rdacontent | >> 337 __ $a computer $2 rdamedia | >> 338 __ $a online resource $2 rdacarrier | >> | >> However, I was recently reviewing something where the following | >> was | >> used: | >> | >> 336 __ $a two-dimensional moving image $2 rdacontent | >> 337 __ $a computer $2 rdamedia | >> 337 __ $a video $2 rdamedia | >> 338 __ $a online resource $2 rdacarrier | >> | >> A little googling found institutions recommending that as well as | >> | >> 336 __ $a two-dimensional moving image $2 rdacontent | >> 337 __ $a video $2 rdamedia | >> 338 __ $a online resource $2 rdacarrier | >> | >> The relevant RDA definitions for media type: | >> | >> Video: Media used to store moving or still images, designed for | >> use | >> with a playback device such as a videocassette player or DVD | >> player. | >> Includes media used to store digitally encoded as well as analog | >> images | >> | >> Computer: Media used to store electronic files, designed for use | >> with | >> a computer. Includes media that are accessed remotely through file | >> servers as well as direct-access media such as computer tapes and | >> discs. | >> | >> Leaving aside the problematic nature of the computer media type in | >> RDA and working with RDA as written, what should the media type(s) | >> for streaming video be? | >> | >> Also worrying to me is the fact that catalogers are interpreting | >> and | >> applying the these elements in such disparate ways for the same | >> type | >> of material. What does this lack of consistency mean for our | >> ability | >> to map these elements to more human-friendly displays? I suppose | >> the | >> more important elements for mapping to icons, etc. are the content | >> and carrier types, but I still find it a little unsettling. | >>
