OLAC Publications and Training Materials

OLAC Metadata Application Profile and Policy Statements for the Official RDA Toolkit

Sarah Hovde, University of Maryland
John Dickson, Harvard University
Robert Freeborn, Penn State University
Peggy Griesinger, University of Notre Dame
Jeannette Ho, Texas A&M University
Junghae Lee, University of Washington
Nicole Lewis, Brigham Young University
Treshani Perera, Big Ten Academic Alliance
Madeleine Boyer, University of Toronto
Liza Campbell, University of West Florida
Sherab Chen, The Ohio State University
Jessica Hayden, Berea College
David Norris, St. Catherine University
Diana Simpson, University of Southern Mississippi

Publication Date

2-2026

Abstract

This document introduces a metadata application profile (MAP) and a set of policy statements (PS) for use with the Official RDA Toolkit, based on the OLAC Best Practices for Cataloging DVD-Video and Blu-ray Discs, Objects, Streaming Media, and Video Games Using the Original RDA Toolkit and MARC 21 (2023; hereafter OLAC Best Practices or Best Practices). These resources were developed by the OLAC Unified Best Practices in Official RDA Task Force (2022-2026).

Both the MAP and the PS are meant to be living documents, and it is expected that they will be regularly improved and updated to reflect the needs of audiovisual (etc.) catalogers, changes to OLAC Best Practices, and changes to the Official RDA Toolkit. Both the MAP and the PS are meant to be used in conjunction with the Official RDA Toolkit, and will not be maximally effective without Toolkit access. At this time, the documents are meant to be an interpretation of the OLAC Best Practices guide, not a replacement for it, and catalogers should continue to consult the OLAC Best Practices as they implement Official RDA with the MAP and PS.