** IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ** Per the following message from the Library of Congress, Phase 2 authority updates will begin releasing on March 4, 2013. They will release 30,000 updated authorities per day, 5 days a week, until the 370,000-400,000 records have been distributed. We wanted to alert you to this upcoming event so you could prepare in advance (if needed) for potentially larger than usual record loading and indexing. Backstage will be delivering all updates. Though you will only need to receive updated authorities that match those in your individual Backstage Authority Master, there is still the potential for a large impact. Many institutions may be thinking that they don't have to start worrying about RDA until April, but because of Phase 2 the impact will be sooner than that. If you can only load or index at night or on weekends, you may need to make plans for this. If there are any special arrangements you would like to make with us (smaller/larger file sizes, dividing your authorities up into different group types, different delivery schedules, etc.) we would be very happy to work with you. Please contact your Backstage Project Manager if you do. Best regards, Your Backstage Authority Control Team !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: Forwarded in behalf of Ana Lupe Cristán. This message may be forwarded to other discussion lists - apologies for the duplication. ********************************************** The PCC Acceptable Headings Implementation Task Group (PCCAHITG) has finished testing the Phase 2 changes to the LC/NACO Authority File in the context of the adoption of RDA. This message is intended as a notification that the Phase 2 changes are currently targeted to begin no earlier than March 4th, 2013.* The testing has identified nearly 400,000 name authority records that are candidates for change. As with the Phase 1 changes completed in the summer of 2012 (see http://www.loc.gov/cds/notices/120717.pdf <http://www.loc.gov/cds/notices/120717.pdf> ), the records will be adjusted in the LC database and distributed to the NACO nodes and other CDS customers. LC will update 30,000 records per day, Monday thru Friday, until the changes are completed (the final day of changes distributed may be less than 30,000). These updated records are in addition to the regular distribution of LC/NACO transactions. As a reminder, the Phase Two changes will consist of the actual programmatic changes to the 1XX headings that are not acceptable under RDA (e.g., changes to Bible headings, spelling out Dept. and months, etc., in the subfield $d for personal names). A document: Summary of Programmatic Changes to the LC/NACO Authority File is available at: http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/pdf/lcnaf_rdaphase.pdf <http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/pdf/lcnaf_rdaphase.pdf> Please be aware that although the programming was very successful, a handful of anomalies was observed, mainly because there are NARs that contain irregular data elements to begin with (the logic assumes good data and does what it can when confronted with anomalies); you may report unexpected anomalies in NARs to policy@loc.gov <mailto:policy@loc.gov> for correction. Once Phase 2 is completed PSD will undertake a project to programmatically synchronize the access points in LC's bibliographic records with those changed in the LC/NAF. In the interim please do not send reports for bibliographic file maintenance. LC and PCC would like to thank everyone that helped with the programming and testing: Gary Strawn (Northwestern University), Vicki Brueck (State Library of North Carolina), Ryan Finnerty (University of California-San Diego), Miloche Kottman (University of Kansas), Nancy Lorimer (Stanford University), Jenifer K. Marquardt (University of Georgia, Athens), Mary Mastraccio (MARCIVE), Robert Maxwell (Brigham Young University), Jeremy Myntti (University of Utah), Nancy Sack (University of Hawaii-Manoa), Helen Schmierer (retired), Pat Williams (University of Chicago), Jia Xu (University of Iowa), and a special valentine to Karen Anderson (Backstage Library Works), who coordinated the test by providing guidance to testers and fielding their questions. That cooperative spirit still sparks. *(the current uncertain federal budget situation may require postponement or adjustment of the projected schedule. We will send out a notice with specific details if this becomes necessary)