Learning Resources
Online resources about cataloguing and data creation using RDA exist to support teaching and training activities. We welcome suggestions for new resources or events to include on this page.
Resources maintained by RDA Toolkit and the RDA Steering Committee (RSC)
- RDA Toolkit YouTube channel contains instructional videos on how to use the RDA Toolkit and recordings of RDA-related presentations. All demonstrations and presentations from the RDA Toolkit webinar series are posted to this channel.
- RSC Presentations links to PDFs of slides used in presentations by RSC members or other RDA experts. It is part of the broader RSC website which contains important documentation, updates, and reports on RSC activities, as well as RDA-related announcements.
- RDA Toolkit News and Information provides updates on RDA Toolkit releases and development and announcements about RDA-related events and activities.
Resources for educators
Report on approaches to teaching RDA in the LIS classroom -- This report offers library and information science (LIS) educators a possible approach for incorporating the official RDA Toolkit into courses about metadata creation and cataloguing. It includes tips for teaching with RDA. Report by Elisa Sze, November 2022.
RDA teaching & training tips -- This handout offers tips for educators and trainers who plan to incorporate RDA into a course or training program on knowledge organization, metadata schemas, or resource description (including cataloguing). Handout by Elisa Sze, January 2024.
- Spanish translation: RDA Consejos de Enseñanza y Capacitación -- Este folleto ofrece consejos para educadores y formadores que planean incorporar RDA en un curso o programa de capacitación sobre organización del conocimiento, esquemas de metadatos o descripción de recursos (incluida la catalogación). Traducción al Español: Ángela Quiroz Ubierna.
Community-based training materials on the official RDA Toolkit
The following training materials were developed by various communities to support the transition of their members from the original to the official RDA Toolkit. These materials are neither created nor endorsed by the RDA Steering Committee, but they are linked from this page to support trainers and instructors who seek examples of training materials.
National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ)
- Training plan. Publication date: December 2023.
- Phase 1 and Phase 2 training modules via Niche Academy portal. Additional content will be integrated over time. No login required.
Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC)
- Phase 1: PCC Introductory RDA Training materials. These materials were developed by members of the PCC Standing Committee on Training (SCT) RDA Training Task Group: Monographs. Refer to the PCC website for information regarding reuse and acknowledgements. First release date: December 2023.
- Phase 1: PCC Introductory RDA Training Webinars. Recordings from the webinars held from March to May 2024, which were based on the SCT RDA Training Task Group: Monographs training materials. No login required.
If your community has published training materials and would like to see a link to that content included on this webpage, contact rdatoolkit@ala.org.
Past presentations on the RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign (3R) Project
The following resources were developed to introduce existing RDA users to the 3R Project, which resulted in the launch of the official RDA Toolkit in December 2020:
- Anticipating the New RDA -- video of a presentation by Damian Iseminger and Kate James for the Library of Congress. From July 2019.
- RDA Cataloguing and Linked Data --pdf of presentation by Gordon Dunsire at the First Colloquium on RDA in Latin America. From November 2018.
- Evolution of the RDA Toolkit and Its Impact of Catalogers -- pdf of presentation by Kathy Glennan. From November 2018.
- RDA Toolkit Playlist -- this playlist on the RDA Toolkit YouTube channel provides demonstrations and tips on using the beta Toolkit.
- Using the RDA Toolkit -- pdf manual for using the beta RDA Toolkit.
Information on the Library Reference Model (LRM)
The IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) is the high-level, entity-relationship based conceptual model that underlies RDA and informs the structure of the official RDA Toolkit. Published in 2017, it harmonized and superseded the Functional Requirements family of models (FRBR, FRAD, and FRSAD).
- IFLA Library Reference Model: What and Why? -- video of a presentation by Chris Oliver that provides an overview of LRM and the impact for cataloging practices. From June 2018.
Key RDA concepts
The 3R Project introduced new concepts to RDA and also presented new approaches to established concepts. Some of these concepts are covered in the links that follow.
- Aggregates and Serials
- Two Presentations on Aggregates and Serials -- video recording of presentations by Clement Oury and Deborah Fritz at the ALA Annual Conference. From June 2018.
- Aggregates in the IFLA Library Reference Model and RDA -- pdf of presentation by Damian Iseminger at Program for Cooperative Cataloging Operations Committee meeting. From May 2019.
- Diachronic Works in RDA -- PDF of presentation by Ed Jones for Program for Cooperative Cataloging Operations Committee meeting. From May 2019.
- Appellations Elements and Nomens
- A Deeper Dive into Nomen and Appellations -- video recording of a presentation by Gordon Dunsire at the ALA Midwinter Meetings. From January 2019.
- Relationship Elements
- Relationship Elements -- video recording of a presentation by Kate James at the ALA Midwinter Meetings. From January 2019.
- Representative Expressions
- Representative Expressions -- pdf of presentation by Kathy Glennan at ALA Midwinter Meetings. From February 2018.
- Vocabulary Encoding Schemes
- RDA Vocabulary Encoding Schemes -- pdf of presentation by Kate James at the ALA Midwinter Meetings. From January 2020.
RDA and Linked Data
One of the original goals of RDA is to align its instructions with linked data principles. The links below address how this goal is being met.
- RDA Linked Data Stuff -- pdf of presentation by Gordon Dunsire at the ALA Annual Conference. From June 2019.
RDA Exercises
RDA Toolkit Workshop -- all of the slides and handouts from the workshop held at the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meetings. There are 4 exercises with answers. From January 2020.
Learning resources related to the original RDA Toolkit have been retained for historical reference.