Cooperative Catalogers’ Lived Experience Implementing Resource Description and Access: Developing Best Practices for Creating Global Metadata

Abstract

Through the lens of Bijker's (1995) social construction of technology (SCOT) theory, this phenomenological study examines the lived experience of catalogers and metadata specialists implementing Resource Description and Access (RDA) to create bibliographic records that are interoperable within and outside of library catalogs. During this transformative time, even the models and principles on which RDA is based are evolving. RDA is the first step in improving access to information and, it continues to evolve in order to meet its stated objectives. Other standards for encoding and systems for displaying bibliographic data must also further develop to effect the change. This study sought to capture the perspectives and lived experiences of catalogers and metadata specialists in multiple types of libraries fulfilling their foundational purpose: to create metadata that improves accessibility to quality information resources for all.