Question: How do I identify an RDA record?  When I come across one, what should I do with it?

Answer:

• An RDA record has "|e rda" somewhere in its 040 string.  We don't have rules yet for where exactly in the 040 the "|e rda" should appear, so be sure to look through the whole string.
• Additionally, up in the fixed fields, an RDA record cannot be DCF "a" for AACR2.  It has to be coded "i."   The "i" means that the record uses ISBD punctuation.  [metaserv:A code "c" is also compatible with RDA records, meaning that the record does not use ISBD punctuation, but nobody has one of these creatures yet].
• The most prominent features of RDA records are the new 336, 337 and 338 fields.  On regular books, you will see:

                   336::text |2 rdacontent

                   337::unmediated |2 rdamedia

                  338::volume |2 rdacarrier

      When you find an RDA record, do not edit it.  Things that look like mistakes might not be mistakes under RDA rules, and it's best to leave it alone.  However, do show your record around!  Everyone loves to ooh and aah at these little darlings, and it's good practice to point out the RDA features.    

Below is an example of an RDA record from the Voyager catalog.  Note some further RDA features:

•  the cataloger has opted to use the capitalization as found on the resource
• the copyright date cannot substitute for the date of publication.  The date of publication has been supplied in this record.  The other option would be to say "[metaserv:date of publication not identified]" but LC is discouraging the use of that option for reasons you don't want to know about yet.
• the date of copyright has been recorded in addition to the date of publication.  The copyright date uses the copyright symbol instead of a plain c.  In the fixed fields, note the use of Publication Status "t" and the recording of both the copyright date and the date of publication, even though they are the same.
• "pages" has been spelled out in the 300
• No period at the end of cm because there is no 490!
• Notice that the authorized access point for Larry Sabato down in the 700 (didn't make it onto the screen shot) is not the same as the 100 on his authority record.  This is an example of RDA splitting our authority file.