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.
