RDA Implementation at the National Autonomous University of Mexico

Abstract

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) [National Autonomous University of Mexico] is the largest and most important educational institution in Mexico and Latin America. It serves more than 340,000 graduate, bachelor and high school students. It offers 41 graduate programs and 118 undergraduate ones. Moreover, the Biblioteca Nacional de México (BNM) [National Library of Mexico] is into the UNAM structure, playing the role of safeguarding and preserving the bibliographical memory of Mexico, which is integrated by more than 1,250,000 books and documents that are sheltered into this library. Moreover, the Sistema Bibliotecario y de Información de la UNAM (SIBIUNAM) [UNAM Library and Information System] is composed of 135 libraries with a collection of approximately 1,700.000 book titles and 6,000.000 volumes, which is coordinated by the Dirección General de Bibliotecas de la UNAM [UNAM General Directorate of Libraries]. Additionally, in the UNAM organization is placed the Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliotecológicas y de la Información (IIBI) [Institute of Research in Library and Information Sciences], where theoretical and applied research projects are carried out in several research areas, being one of them the information organization, and within this one, cataloging standards are approached. This article addresses the challenges that the adoption of the new RDA cataloging standard has represented for these three UNAM organizations, as well as the actions developed in each one of them. The Biblioteca Nacional México (BNM) experiences on RDA implementation are shared. Some problematic situations, as well as the solution for these ones, are presented. It is also included the BNM participation in forums, to communicate the work that was done on cataloging using the new code. It also is addressed the updating and training of staff, participation in cooperative cataloging programs and the RDA analysis in work teams, as well as the agreements for their implementation. Also, a mention is made about the changes in workflows, the technological support that was needed, the current situation and the future challenges for RDA implementation. Moreover, the analysis and the processes for the application of RDA in the materials acquired by the Sistema Bibliotecario y de la Información de la UNAM (SIBIUNAM) are presented. The challenges faced during this standard change are also presented. In addition, several aspects related to the records in the LIBRUNAM catalog are described, as well as the retrospective changes; the article also deals with the generation of new records with the consequent addition of MARC tags, as well as the challenges that the application of the RDA has meant. Finally, some actions that the Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliotecológicas y de la Información (IIBI) has carried out for the RDA adoption as the Cataloging and Metadata Meetings organization, which have become a forum for problem discussion related on RDA adoption and application at UNAM libraries, as well as in other Mexican and Latin American ones. Additionally, the recommendations that have been discussed and proposed in these academic events for professional training in LIS schools to be able of using RDA.