Library of Congress

Program for Cooperative Cataloging

The Library of Congress > Cataloging, Acquisitions > PCC > Official RDA Implementation FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions on Official RDA Implementation

The PCC RDA Implementation Task Group is developing recommendations for PCC’s implementation of the official RDA Toolkit. This page will be updated as recommendations are approved.

Changes from Original RDA

Documentation and Training

Implementation

Changes from Original RDA

What is official RDA versus original RDA?

The original RDA Toolkit (https://original.rdatoolkit.org/) was based on the FRBR, FRAD, and FRSAD conceptual models and is the version we have been using in our cataloging for the past decade or so. After IFLA consolidated FRBR, FRAD, and FRSAD into the IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM), the RDA Toolkit underwent a Restructure and Redesign Project (3R Project) to, in part, align RDA with LRM and improve the Toolkit functionality. The new version of the RDA Toolkit is known as the official RDA Toolkit (https://access.rdatoolkit.org/).

For additional information, see Module 2: Development and Basics of RDA as part of the Phase 1: PCC Introductory RDA Training.

What are some notable changes from original RDA to official RDA?

In addition to a redesigned RDA Toolkit, official RDA introduced new and updated terminology, entities, elements, cataloging practices, and MARC 21 encodings.

Some examples of changes in PCC cataloging practice include the following:

  • Choice to record a term from an RDA vocabulary encoding scheme and/or from another appropriate vocabulary encoding scheme
  • Instructions for constructing access points are in string encoding scheme (SES) Metadata Guidance documentation
  • Instead of relationship designators, PCC created relationship labels (see Metadata Guidance documentation: Relationship labels)
  • Descriptions created following PCC's implementation will use two description convention source codes: 040 $e rda $e pccrda (see Metadata Guidance documentation: Work: Related manifestation of work)
  • New approach for describing aggregates and aggregated content (see Metadata Guidance documentation: Aggregates)

For detailed information on these and other changes, see Changes from Original RDA for Monographs: Report.

Back to top

Documentation and Training

Are PCC institutions required to have a subscription to the official RDA Toolkit?

Yes. There are some expenses associated with PCC membership, including subscriptions to required cataloging documentation (see Join the PCC). The official RDA Toolkit is an essential resource for implementing official RDA and for ongoing cataloging using the standard. All PCC documentation and training materials are to be used in conjunction with the official RDA Toolkit and are not intended to be separate, stand-alone documents.

What documentation and training will PCC provide?

As part of its implementation of the official RDA Toolkit, the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) is committed to providing documentation and training, including the following:

  • LC-PCC Policy Statements (LC-PCC PSs)
  • Metadata Guidance Documentation (MGDs)
  • Metadata Application Profiles (MAPs)
  • Guidelines for working with RDA (original and official) and non-RDA records, including hybrid records with official RDA elements
  • Training for cataloging print and electronic books and serials
  • Training for creating and updating LC/NACO authority records

What documentation and training will PCC provide for BIBCO before implementing official RDA?

Before implementing official RDA for monographs, PCC will provide the following documentation and training:

  • BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) Official RDA Metadata Application Profile
  • Guidelines for working with RDA and non-RDA records, as well as hybrid records
  • Bridge training for experienced catalogers to catalog print and electronic books in MARC 21
  • Full training for newer catalogers to catalog print and electronic books in MARC 21

What documentation and training will PCC provide for CONSER before implementing official RDA?

Before implementing official RDA for serial and integrating works, PCC will provide the following documentation and training:

  • CONSER Standard Record (CSR) Official RDA Metadata Application Profile
  • Guidelines for working with RDA and non-RDA records, including hybrid records
  • CONSER Guidelines for Working with Existing Copy
  • Bridge training for experienced catalogers to catalog print and electronic serial and integrating works in MARC 21
  • Full training for newer catalogers to catalog print and electronic serial and integrating works in MARC 21

What documentation and training will PCC provide for NACO before implementing official RDA?

Before implementing official RDA for name authorities, PCC will provide the following documentation and training:

  • Metadata application profiles for name authorities
  • Guidelines for working with RDA and non-RDA records, including hybrid records
  • Bridge training for experienced catalogers to create and update name authority records
  • Full training for newer catalogers to create and update name authority records

What documentation and training are currently available from PCC?

As of February 2026, the following documentation and training are available from PCC:

Where is there a list of past presentations about official RDA?

Presentations presented to PCC or by PCC members about official RDA and PCC's implementation of official RDA are available on the Official RDA Presentations page on the PCC Wiki.

Back to top

Implementation

What is PCC doing to prepare for official RDA implementation?

As of July 2025, PCC is working on the following tasks to prepare for official RDA implementation:

  • Reviewing and updating LC-PCC PSs and MGDs based on feedback from the PCC RDA test and the PCC RDA Communications Committee
  • Updating BIBCO and CONSER Standard Record (BSR, CSR) Metadata Application Profiles
  • Reviewing additional documentation that needs to be updated for official RDA
  • Developing training for cataloging print and electronic books, as well as creating and updating LC/NACO authority records
  • Publishing PCC RDA Communications Bulletins with updates on PCC's efforts towards implementing the official RDA Toolkit

For a complete list of tasks, see PCC Official RDA Implementation Tasks.

When should PCC institutions plan to implement the official RDA Toolkit?

The PCC Policy Committee announced that PCC will have a rolling implementation from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2027. This 3-year rolling implementation will allow institutions to transition to the official RDA Toolkit before the removal of the original RDA Toolkit.

As PCC continues to prepare for official RDA implementation, dates will be announced when BIBCO, CONSER, and NACO records can be created using official RDA. These dates will vary for each program based on the availability of documentation and training. Furthermore, institutions will be given sufficient time to review the documentation and training before they implement official RDA.

Until instructed otherwise, PCC records should continue to be created using the original RDA Toolkit.

Where should I send questions and feedback?

Questions and feedback, including revisions to LC-PCC Policy Statements and Metadata Guidance Documentation, can be submitted using the PCC RDA Communications Committee Feedback Form.

Back to top