Research Guides: RDA Resources and Training: Relationship Designators

PCC Guidelines for the Application of Relationship Designators in Bibliographic Records

PCC Policy for Addition of Relationship Designators

Include a relationship designator for all creators, whether they are coded MARC 1XX or MARC 7XX. If the MARC 1XX is not a creator, the addition of a relationship designator is optional though strongly encouraged. Add a relationship designator even if the MARC field definition already implies a relationship. Relationships should be coded explicitly and not inferred from MARC or other parts of the record.

Creators:

100 1 Agunias, Dovelyn Rannveig, $e author.

700 1 Newland, Kathleen, $e author.

Other entity associated with work (not a creator):

100 1 Hull, William, 1753–1825, $e defendant.

General Guidelines for PCC Catalogers Applying RDA Relationship Designators

Catalogers may begin to add relationship designators after they have received RDA training. There is no “official start date.”

It is recommended that PCC catalogers use relationship designators from the RDA appendices. If the term needed is not there, use the Fast Track Process to propose a new term. Fast Track procedures are in process.

If a PCC cataloger wishes to use a term from a different registered vocabulary (e.g., MARC relator terms, RBMS relationship designators, etc.), he/she may do so. Do not use a MARC relator code in $4 in addition to a MARC relator term.

Within a hierarchy of relationship designators, prefer a specific term to a general one if it is easily determined. For example, use librettist rather than author for the creator of a libretto.

Assign an RDA element name as a relationship designator, e.g., "creator" (19.2) or "publisher" (21.3) if it will most appropriately express the relationship. Note: This departure from RDA is necessary in our current MARC environment to express the relationship because not all RDA elements have dedicated MARC fields. However, do not propose RDA element names for inclusion in RDA relationship designator lists.

If the nature of the relationship cannot be ascertained even at a general level, do not assign a relationship designator.

Do not evaluate or edit older codes or terms in cataloging records unless they are clearly in error. Add new, appropriate relationship designators following any existing codes or terms.

Be careful to apply relationship designators in accordance with their definitions. For example, note the difference between editor and editor of compilation, or between artist and illustrator. If the definitions or the hierarchies appear to be problematic, propose changes to them. Fast Track procedures are in process.

In general, it is not necessary to provide access points for related entities not named in the resource. However, other sources of information may be consulted to identify related entities and determine the nature of their relationship to the resource.

Guidelines for RDA Appendix I Relationship Designators

PCC highly encourages including relationship designators for all access points whenever it is clear what the relationship is.

If more than one relationship designator is appropriate because the same entity has multiple roles, preferably use repeating $e (or $j for MARC X11 fields). If necessary, multiple headings may be used instead. Add relationship designators in WEMI order.

100 1 Stone, Melicent, $e author, $e illustrator.

Optionally

100 1 Shore, David A., $e author.

700 1 Shore, David A., $e former owner. $5 DNLM

Note that the relationship designators in RDA Appendix I may be applied to families and corporate bodies as well as to individuals.

Appendix I relationship designators should not be used in a name/title access point tagged MARC 700-711 or 800-811, or in a name/title linking field tagged MARC 76X-78X.

Guidelines for RDA Appendix J relationship designators

The use of relationship designators for resource-to-resource relationships is encouraged.

If a cataloger wishes to indicate a known relationship to a known resource, and the $i relationship information subfield is defined for the MARC 7XX field being used, provide a relationship designator. Do so even if the field coding otherwise already expresses a relationship.

Where multiple relationships exist, e.g., an abridged translation, provide separate access points, each with a single relationship designator in a single $i subfield. Alternatively, identify one relationship as primary and record that relationship alone.

Except in the case of sequential work or expression relationships and equivalent manifestation relationships for serials, it is not necessary to provide reciprocal relationship fields.

Catalogers may add a 7XX field with a relationship designator referring to a specific related resource even if a 130 or 240 field is already present implying that they are versions of the same work.

If there is reason to believe that the resource being cataloged is related to another resource, but the resource in question cannot be identified (e.g., in the case of an expression that is believed to be a translation but the original is unknown), give the information in a note.

When constructing a reference to a related resource sharing the same principally responsible creator as the resource being described, use a 700/710/711/730 author-title entry explicitly naming the creator in its $a rather than a 740 title entry with an implied relationship to the 1XX in the same record.

For unstructured descriptions it is not necessary to indicate the WEMI level at which the relationship is asserted.

Relationship Designator Terms

Appendix C: Recommended relationship designators for specific categories of material

These lists are the outcome of an initial round of consultation with specialist communities on a basic set of relationship designators that they would regard as desirable. They are offered here both as a resource for catalogers and as a basis for continuing work on developing best practice.

Relationship designators for creators are marked with an asterisk.

General textual resources

WEMI entity	RDA rule	Term
Work	I.2.1	author*
Work	I.2.1	compiler*
Work	I.2.2	degree granting institution
Work	I.2.2	issuing body
Work	I.2.2	sponsoring body
Expression	I.3.1	editor
Expression	I.3.1	editor of compilation
Expression	I.3.1	illustrator[1]
Expression	I.3.1	translator
Expression	I.3.1	writer of added commentary

Cartographic materials

WEMI entity	RDA rule	Term
Work	I.2.1	cartographer*
Work	I.2.1	compiler*
Work	I.2.1	artist*
Work	I.2.1	designer*
Work	I.2.2	issuing body
Expression	I.3.1	surveyor
Expression	I.3.1	draftsman
Manifestation	I.4.1	engraver
Manifestation	I.4.1	lithographer
Manifestation	I.4.1	printer

Audiovisual material

WEMI entity	RDA rule	Term
Work	I.2.1	filmmaker*
Work	I.2.1	author*
Work	I.2.2	director
Work	I.2.2	director of photography
Work	I.2.2	film producer
Work	I.2.2	production company
Expression	I.3.1	editor of moving image work
Expression	I.3.1	performer
Expression	I.3.1	presenter
Expression	I.3.1	composer (expression)
Expression	I.3.1	animator
Manifestation	I.4.2	broadcaster
Manifestation	I.4.2	film distributor

A full list of relationship designators applicable to audiovisual material is available at: http://pccrelationshipdesignatortg.pbworks.com/w/page/59552950/AV%20Relationship%20Designators%20(Core%20and%20Full)

Music

The MLA Bibliographic Control Committee recommended a set of relationship designators from RDA Appendix J as well as RDA Appendix I.

WEMI entity	RDA rule	RDA Appendix I term
Work	I.2.1	composer*
Work	I.2.1	librettist*
Work	I.2.1	lyricist*
Expression	I.3.1	arranger of music
Expression	I.3.1	conductor
Expression	I.3.1	editor
Expression	I.3.1	narrator
Expression	I.3.1	performer
Expression	I.3.1	recordist

WEMI entity	RDA rule	RDA Appendix J term
Work	J.2.2	adaptation of (work)
Work	J.2.5	cadenza composed for (work)
Work	J.2.4	contained in (work)
Work	J.2.4	contains (work)
Work	J.2.5	libretto based on (work)
Work	J.2.5	libretto for (work)
Work	J.2.2	musical setting of (work)
Work	J.2.2	musical variations based on (work)
Expression	J.3.4	contains (expression)
Expression	J.3.2	musical arrangement of

A full list of relationship designators applicable to music is available at: http://pccrelationshipdesignatortg.pbworks.com/Music-Relationship-Designators-%28Core-and-Full-lists%29

Rare books and manuscripts

The RBMS Controlled Vocabularies subcommittee maintains its own list of relationship designators which is available at http://www.rbms.info/committees/bibliographic_standards/controlled_vocabularies/relators/alphabetical_list.htm. Below is a selection of terms common to both vocabularies showing the RBMS scope note.

WEMI entity	RDA rule	Term	RBMS scope note
Work	I.2.1	artist*	Use for the entity responsible for conceiving, and perhaps also implementing, an original graphic design or work of art. Prefer "illustrator" for book illustrators.
Work	I.2.1	compiler*	Use for the entity responsible for producing a work or publication by selecting and putting together material from the works of various persons or bodies.

Expression	I.3.1	contributor	Use for an entity responsible for contributing to a larger work, such as a monographic anthology, serial publication, or other compilation of individual works. Do not use for an entity whose sole function in relation to a work is editor, author, compiler, or translator.
Expression	I.3.1	editor	Use for the entity responsible for preparing for publication a work not primarily his/her/its own, such as by elucidating text, adding introductory or other critical matter, or technically directing an editorial staff.
Expression	I.3.1	illustrator	Use for the entity responsible for conceiving, and perhaps also implementing, a design or illustration, usually to accompany a written text.
Expression	I.3.1	translator	Use for person who renders a text from one language into another, or from an older form of a language into the modern form.
Manifestation	I.4.1	engraver
Manifestation	I.4.1	printer	Use for printer of texts, whether from type or plates.
Manifestation	I.4.2/21.3.1.1	publisher
Item	I.5.2	binder[2]
Item	I.5.2	collector	Use for the entity responsible for bringing together material from various sources, which has been arranged, described, and cataloged as a collection. The collector is neither the creator of the material nor the entity to whom manuscripts in the collection may have been addressed.
Item	I.5.1	donor	Use for the entity who donates a book, manuscript, etc., to the present owner; donors to previous owners are designated as former owner or inscriber.
Item	I.5.1	former owner	Use for an entity that previously owned an item. For an entity giving the item to the present owner, use "donor."

[1] LC-PCC PS for I.3.1 states that the relationship designator illustrator should be applied to access points for illustrators of resources intended for children.

[2] In RBMS usage the relationship designator binder may apply at either the item or the manifestation level.

Full List of Terms

actor	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by acting as a cast member or player in a musical or dramatic presentation, etc.
animator	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a moving image work or computer program by giving apparent movement to inanimate objects or drawings. For the creator of the drawings that are animated, see artist, I.2.1
annotator	A person who makes manuscript annotations on an item.
architect	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating an architectural design, including a pictorial representation intended to show how a building, etc., will look when completed.
landscape architect	An architect responsible for creating landscape works.
art director	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by overseeing the artists and craftspeople who build the sets for moving image productions.
arranger of music	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a musical work by rewriting the composition for a medium of performance different from that for which the work was originally intended, or modifying the work for the same medium of performance, etc., such that the musical substance of the original composition remains essentially unchanged. For extensive modification that effectively results in the creation of a new musical work, see composer, I.2.1
artist	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a work by conceiving, and often implementing, an original graphic design, drawing, painting, etc.
screenwriter	An author of a screenplay, script, or scene.
author	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a work that is primarily textual in content, regardless of media type (e.g., printed text, spoken word, electronic text, tactile text) or genre (e.g., poems, novels, screenplays, blogs). Use also for persons, etc., creating a new work by paraphrasing, rewriting, or adapting works by another creator such that the modification has substantially changed the nature and content of the original or changed the medium of expression.
book designer	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by being responsible for the entire graphic design of a book, including arrangement of type and illustration, choice of materials, and process used.
binder	A person who binds an item.
choreographer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a work of movement.
choreographer (expression)	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by providing additional choreography, or by modifying the previous choreography.
collotyper	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation of photographic prints from film or other colloid that has ink-receptive and ink-repellent surfaces.
commentator	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by providing interpretation, analysis, or a discussion of the subject matter on a recording, film, or other audiovisual medium.
composer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a musical work. Use also for persons, etc., adapting another musical work to form a distinct alteration (e.g., free transcription), paraphrasing a work or creating a work in the general style of another composer, or creating a work that is based on the music of another composer (e.g., variations on a theme).
composer (expression)	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression by adding music to a work that originally lacked it, by composing new music to substitute for the original music, or by composing new music to supplement the existing music.
director of photography	A person, family, or corporate body that captures images, either electronically or on film or video stock, and often selects and arranges the lighting. The director of photography for a movie is also called the chief cinematographer. Use this designation also for videographers.
conductor	A performer contributing to an expression of a musical work by leading a performing group (orchestra, chorus, opera, etc.) in a musical or dramatic presentation, etc.
collector	A curator who brings together items from various sources that are then arranged, described, and cataloged as a collection.
compiler	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a new work (e.g., a bibliography, a directory) through the act of compilation, e.g., selecting, arranging, aggregating, and editing data, information, etc. For a compiler as a contributor, see editor of compilation, I.3.1
costume designer	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by designing the costumes for a moving image production or for a musical or dramatic presentation or entertainment.
cartographer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a map, atlas, globe, or other cartographic work.
curator	A person, family, or corporate body conceiving, aggregating, and/or organizing an exhibition, collection, or other item.
defendant	A person or corporate body who is accused in a criminal proceeding or sued in a civil proceeding.
appellee	A person or corporate body against whom an appeal is taken.
appellant	A person or corporate body who appeals a lower court’s decision.
dancer	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by dancing in a musical, dramatic, etc., presentation.
draftsman	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by an architect, inventor, etc., by making detailed plans or drawings for buildings, ships, aircraft, machines, objects, etc.
filmmaker	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating an independent or personal film. A filmmaker is individually responsible for the conception and execution of all aspects of the film. [non-collaborative role]
director	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for the general management and supervision of a filmed performance, a radio or television program, etc.
film director	A director responsible for the general management and supervision of a filmed performance.
radio directorradio program	A director responsible for the general management and supervision of a
television director	A director responsible for the general management and supervision of a television program.
designer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a design for an object.
film distributor	A person, family, or corporate body involved in distributing a moving image manifestation to theatres or other distribution channels.
dedicatee	A person, family, or corporate body to whom the work is dedicated.
dedicatee of item	A person, family, or corporate body to whom an item is dedicated.
dedicator	A person, family, or corporate body by whom the work is dedicated.
editor of moving image work	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for assembling, arranging, and trimming film, video, or other moving image formats, including both visual and audio aspects.
editor	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by revising or elucidating the content, e.g., adding an introduction, notes, or other critical matter. An editor may also prepare an expression of a work for production, publication, or distribution. For major revisions, adaptations, etc., that substantially change the nature and content of the original work, resulting in a new work, see author, I.2.1
editor of compilation	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a collective or aggregate work by selecting and putting together works, or parts of works, by one or more creators. The editor of compilation may also be involved in elucidating the content, e.g., adding an introduction, notes, or other critical matter, of the compilation. For compilations of data, information, etc., that result in new works, see compiler, I.2.1
engraver	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by cutting letters, figures, etc., on a surface such as a wooden or metal plate used for printing.
etcher	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by subjecting metal, glass, or some other surface used for printing, to acid or another corrosive substance.
host	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by leading a program (often broadcast) that includes other guests, performers, etc. (e.g., talk show host).
illustrator	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by supplementing the primary content with drawings, diagrams, photographs, etc. If the work is primarily the artistic content created by this entity, see artist, I.2.1
illuminator	A person providing decoration to a specific item using precious metals or color, often with elaborate designs and motifs.
inscriber	A person who has written a statement of dedication or gift on an item.
inventor	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a new device or process.
instrumentalist	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by playing a musical instrument.
interviewee	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a work by responding to an interviewer, usually a reporter, pollster, or some other information gathering agent.
interviewee (expression)	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by responding to an interviewer, usually a reporter, pollster, or some other information gathering agent.
interviewer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a work by acting as an interviewer, reporter, pollster, or some other information gathering agent.
interviewer (expression)	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by acting as an interviewer, reporter, pollster, or some other information gathering agent.
librettist	An author of a libretto of an opera or other stage work, or an oratorio.
lithographer	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by preparing a stone or plate for lithographic printing, including a graphic artist creating a design directly on the surface from which printing will be done.
lyricist	An author of the words of a non-dramatic musical work, except for oratorios.
moderator	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by leading a program (often broadcast) where topics are discussed, usually with participation of experts in fields related to the discussion.
musical director	A person, family, or corporate body contributing the expression of a work by coordinating the activities of the composer, the sound editor, and sound mixers for a moving image production or for a musical or dramatic presentation or entertainment.
narrator	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by reading or speaking in order to give an account of an act, occurrence, course of events, etc.
photographer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a photographic work.
platemaker	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by preparing plates used in the production of printed images and/or text.
puppeteer	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by manipulating, controlling, or directing puppets or marionettes in a moving image production or a musical or dramatic presentation or entertainment.
performer	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by performing music, acting, dancing, speaking, etc., often in a musical or dramatic presentation, etc.
programmer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for creating a computer program.
printmaker	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by making a relief, intaglio, or planographic printing surface.
producer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for most of the business aspects of a production for screen, sound recording, television, webcast, etc. The producer is generally responsible for fund raising, managing the production, hiring key personnel, arranging for distributors, etc.
film producer	A producer responsible for most of the business aspects of a film.
radio producer	A producer responsible for most of the business aspects of a radio program.
television producer	A producer responsible for most of the business aspects of a television program.
production company	A corporate body that is responsible for financial, technical, and organizational management of a production for stage, screen, sound recording, television, webcast, etc.
printer	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation of printed text, notated music, etc., from type or plates, such as a book, newspaper, magazine, broadside, score, etc.
appellee	A person or corporate body against whom an appeal is taken.
plaintiff	A person or corporate body who brings a suit in a civil proceeding.
appellant	A person or corporate body who appeals a lower court’s decision.
recording engineer	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by supervising the technical aspects of a sound or video recording session.
respondent	A candidate for a degree who defends or opposes a thesis provided by the praeses in an academic disputation.
sculptor	An artist responsible for creating a three-dimensional work by modeling, carving, or similar technique.
singer	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by using his/her/their voice, with or without instrumental accompaniment, to produce music. A singer’s performance may or may not include actual words.
speaker	A type of performer contributing to an expression of a work by speaking words, such as a lecture, speech, etc.
sponsoring body	A person, family, or corporate body sponsoring some aspect of the work, e.g., funding research, sponsoring an event.
surveyor	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a cartographic work by providing measurements or dimensional relationships for the geographic area represented.
storyteller	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by relaying a creator’s original story with dramatic or theatrical interpretation.
teacher	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by giving instruction or providing a demonstration.
transcriber	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by changing it from one system of notation to another. For a work transcribed for a different instrument or performing group, see arranger of music, I.3.1
translator	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by rendering one language into another, or from an older form of a language into the modern form, that more or less closely follows the original text of the work.
enacting jurisdiction	A jurisdiction enacting a law, regulation, constitution, court rule, etc.
praeses	A person who is the faculty moderator of an academic disputation, normally proposing a thesis and participating in the ensuing disputation.
addressee	A person, family, or corporate body to whom the correspondence in the work is addressed.
court governed	A court governed by court rules, regardless of their official nature (e.g., laws, administrative regulations).
degree granting institution	A corporate body granting an academic degree.
honouree	A person, family, or corporate body honoured by a work (e.g., the honouree of a festschrift).
host institution	A corporate body hosting an event, exhibit, conference, etc., which gave rise to the work, but having little or no responsibility for the content of the work.
issuing body	A person, family or corporate body issuing the work, such as an official organ of the body.
judge	A person who hears and decides on legal matters in court.
jurisdiction governed	A jurisdiction governed by a law, regulation, etc., that was enacted by another jurisdiction.
abridger	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by shortening or condensing the original work but leaving the nature and content of the original work substantially unchanged. For substantial modifications that result in the creation of a new work, see author, I.2.1
court reporter	The person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by preparing a court’s opinions for publication.
on-screen presenter	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by appearing on screen in nonfiction moving image materials or introductions to fiction moving image materials to provide contextual or background information. Use when another term (e.g., narrator, host) is either not applicable or not desired.
panelist	A performer contributing to an expression of a work by participating in a program (often broadcast) where topics are discussed, usually with participation of experts in fields related to the discussion.
presenter	A person, family, or corporate body mentioned in an “X presents” credit for moving image materials and who is probably associated with production, finance, or distribution in some way.
production designer	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for designing the overall visual appearance of a moving image production.
recordist	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by using a recording device to capture sound and/or video during a recording session, including field recordings of natural sounds, folkloric events, music, etc.
stage director	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a stage work through the general management and supervision of a performance.
writer of added commentary	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a work by providing an interpretation or critical explanation of the original work.
writer of added text	A person, family, or corporate body contributing to an expression of a primarily non-textual work by providing text for the non-textual work (e.g., writing captions for photographs, descriptions of maps).
writer of added lyrics	A writer of words added to an expression of a musical work. For lyric writing in collaboration with a composer to form an original work, see lyricist, I.2.1
braille embosser	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by embossing Braille cells using a stylus, special embossing printer, or other device.
caster	A person, family, or corporate body involved in manufacturing a manifestation by pouring a liquid or molten substance into a mold and leaving it to solidify to take the shape of the mold.
collection registrar	A curator who lists or inventories the items in an aggregate work such as a collection of items or works.
restorationist	A person, family, or corporate body responsible for the set of technical, editorial, and intellectual procedures aimed at compensating for the degradation of an item by bringing it back to a state as close as possible to its original condition.
autographer	A person whose manuscript signature appears on an item.
honouree of item	A person, family, or corporate body honoured by an item, e.g., a person to whom a copy is presented.

Library update: Recent database changes

RDA Resources and Training

PCC Guidelines for the Application of Relationship Designators in Bibliographic Records

Relationship Designator Terms

Full List of Terms