This book addresses far more than just strategies for the implementation of RDA, and it is just as well it does in order to promote its value as a purchase. The problem, as the author herself points out in the Preface, is that implementation of RDA took place in many countries in the first quarter of 2013 which was about the same time, if not before, this title was published. RDA has been coming since 2005 (or 2003 if you consider AACR3 to be part of its development) and thus many, if not most, libraries have been considering its implementation for some time prior to the publication of this book. The author suggests that the book will be most useful “from now (i.e. January 2012) until 2013” and this timing possibly compromises the book's usefulness as a manual for implementation of RDA for many institutions, in particular for those libraries which have been early adopters of the new cataloging code.
In another example of less than optimal timing, the book addresses RDA “as of January 2012” when, again as the author identifies, RDA was still being moulded and interpreted. This should be taken as a warning since RDA has evolved and altered since January 2012 (as it continues to do so) and thus some of the statements made and examples given are not current practice. The issue for libraries and other institutions using RDA is to readily ascertain what is still correct and what has changed in the time between writing and publication of the book. Nonetheless, the book has much to offer.
Due to the long gestation of the new code, much has already been published about RDA covering much of what is also addressed in this resource but, timing and common subject matter notwithstanding, this book is a useful go-to resource for whenever information about RDA is sought. The book gives broad coverage of RDA including historical background, implementation strategies, context, practical application of RDA and examples. The practical advice is particularly useful but additionally the first chapter provides a brief literature review relevant to the development of RDA (and also an interesting timeline) and this is useful for directing the information seeker in their reading. As the author says, there is “a wealth of material on the Internet”, but the sheer quantity of material available is a problem in itself so being pointed to appropriate resources is a helpful aspect of this book. Most chapters provide a list of references (and sometimes additional resources) for further guided reading relevant to each topic covered and there is also a final bibliography.
The chapters which indicate differences between AACR2 and RDA (and there is more than one), and explain the differences in philosophy, are very helpful as exemplars of how AACR2 was applied and what to do now; and why it was so and is so now. It is easier to follow an example than to read a description of what to do and extensive examples for various formats and situations are provided. However, this ease of use is not consistent and later in the book narrative only is used. That is, the chapter on how the FRBR model affects the catalog display is discussed but not illustrated. This seems quite an oversight when display is the focus of the text.
Another contradiction is the emphasis given to the need to understand how to use the RDA Toolbox as an imperative and then many pages being given over to paraphrasing the rules rather than better enabling the reader to experience the Toolbox itself. Additionally, there is conflict between the author's instruction – her very first tip – to “start with FRBR and FRAD” and the actual discussion of FRBR and FRAD coming later in the text.
There are also some issues with the setting out of the book. The numbering within chapters is complex and further complexity is added by subsections of a chapter being listed as dot points in the introductory paragraphs and then numbered within the text itself, and perhaps with slightly different wording. This makes discerning what is ahead in each chapter and then locating it less than totally clear.
Overall the book is useful if the above caveats on its content are noted and if the unconventional setting out can be overlooked. It would be useful to have close at hand while engaging with RDA - from implementation through ongoing application – because it is very practical and includes very detailed recommendations and examples in one volume. This is an achievement in view of the difficult and complex nature of RDA and its application, however, because of this complexity, the book cannot be an answer for all the issues associated with RDA, particularly in view of the timing of its writing and publication as referred to earlier in this review. Perhaps time, familiarity and practice will help and using RDA will become as comfortable and commonplace as AACR2 in the near future.
