Press release: 20.8.2013

The German National Library has been invited to become a member of the Committee of Principals (CoP). The Committee is the policy-making body of the Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA (JSC); its primary responsibility lies in the strategic development of the Resource Description and Access (RDA) standard. According to Chairperson Mary W. Ghikas, a major factor in the Committee's decision to invite the Library to join was the pioneering role which the German National Library played in the changeover from the previous cataloguing practice in Germany to the new RDA standard. It is the first non Anglo-American member of the CoP.

Following last year's invitation to join the JSC, this move represents further recognition of the ongoing and proficient contribution which the German National Library is making to the design and development of the RDA. Renate Gömpel, head of the Office for Library Standards, will represent the German National Library within the CoP.

Further members of the Committee of Principals include the directors of national libraries such as the British Library, the Library of Congress, the Library and Archives Canada, the National Library of Australia, and the chairpersons of the American Library Association, the Canadian Library Association and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) or their appointed representatives.

In conjunction with the library networks represented on the Committee for Library Standards and institutions from Germany, Austria and the German-speaking part of Switzerland, the German National Library is currently preparing the introduction and application of the RDA standard.

Further information

Resource Description and Access (RDA)

Contact person

r.behrens@dnb.de