تطبيق معيار وصف المصادر و الوصول إليها (وام)‎ في مكتبات جامعة السلطان قابوس : الإشكاليات و الحلول

Abstract EN

The study aimed at identifying the status of the implementation of the new standard “Resource Description & Access” (RDA) from the technical, human resources and quality control point of views by taking a sample of some Arabic bibliographic records.

The study tried to assess catalogers’ satisfaction with the new rules and their future aspirations, and what problems and obstacles that are facing.

The researcher adopted the analytical descriptive research method, based on SQUL case study to examine their experience with RDA implementation, using a set of research tools including documents and reports; to identify the procedural and operational steps, and a questionnaire.

The community population consisted of (18) catalogers.

The researcher prepared a checklist in order to determine the quality of the bibliographic records in SQUL catalog.

The researcher took (100) bibliographic records as a sample to examine their quality.

The study has revealed a number of results: the most prominent, of which was the experience of SQUL in their application and implementation of RDA standard was very systematic.

Implementation was preceded by training sessions, and the technical readiness was consistent with the importance of the standard itself; the level of the catalogers’ satisfaction was found to be very high compared to the stages of implementation; training was the most useful source in understanding the standard, and the training needs focused on authority files.

In terms of cataloging of information resources according to RDA, it was low in the printed resources, while high in non-traditional ones.

The system customization and readiness was the biggest obstacle faced RDA implementation at SQUL.

In addition to that, the sample of bibliographic records showed many problems that can be divided into four categories: 1.

MARC 21 fields errors; 2.

Human errors, like spelling, spaces and abbreviations; 3.

Access points errors; 4.

The disparity and errors with the RDAstandard, and the most prominent and outstanding errors were typographical, in addition to spaces and abbreviations by (53.4%), and the lowest errors in access points by 5.3%.

On the light of these results, the study recommended a number of recommendations: a.

Designing or using intelligent detection systems for bibliographic records errors, to include all types of errors.

b.

Taking the benefits of the cataloger’s feedback, especially with those related to adding and updating MARC 21fields to match RDA.

c.

Training of catalogers on building high quality authority files, and to designate a specialist to approve them.

Finally, to take advantage of the SQUL experience in the implementation and application of RDA rules within the Sultanate of Oman and abroad