Committee on Cataloging: Description & Access

To make a continuing assessment of the state of the art and suggest the direction of change in the field of descriptive cataloging; to recommend solutions to problems relating not only to bibliographic description but also to choice and form of access points, other than subject access; to initiate proposals for additions to and revisions of the cataloging code currently adopted by ALA and to review proposals initiated by other groups of individuals; to develop official ALA positions on such proposals in consultation with other appropriate ALA units and organizations in the U.S.A.; to instruct the ALA representative to the joint steering committee for the development of RDA regarding the official ALA position and to suggest acceptable bases for negotiations; to develop official ALA positions on proposed international cataloging policies and standards pertaining to the committee's areas of responsibility and to advise the official ALA representative; or, if there is no official ALA representative, to act as the clearinghouse within ALA for review of these policies and standards and to serve as the formal liaison between ALA and the originating organizations; to encourage the U.S. Library and information services community to express opinions on issues under consideration through timely publication of agenda items in the community's press; to keep the profession informed by reporting committee actions promptly through appropriate communication channels.