> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.lorcandempsey.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# AACR3, The CODE, antelopes and documents
- URL: https://www.lorcandempsey.net/aacr3-the-code-antelopes-and-documents/
- Published: 2005-05-05T18:44:33.000Z
- Updated: 2005-05-05T18:44:33.000Z
- Author: Lorcan Dempsey
- Tags: Systems

Barbara Tillett gave an interesting presentation \[[ppt](https://www.oclc.org/research/events/frbr-workshop/presentations/tillett/FRBR%5Fand%5Fcat%5Frules%5Frev3.ppt?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\] at the [FRBR Workshop](https://www.oclc.org/research/events/frbr-workshop/program.htm?ref=lorcandempsey.net) just finished here about FRBR and AACR3\. Or should I say RDA (Resource Description and Access) which is apparently the working title for the new code. She did say that they were still open to suggestion for a new title. So here is my suggestion:

> **The CODE**

This stands for

> **Cataloguing of Documentary Entities**

Perhaps *document* needs some justification? In Michael Buckland’s illuminating [What is a “document”?](https://www.sims.berkeley.edu/~buckland/whatdoc.html?ref=lorcandempsey.net) he refers to the work of Briet: 

> There is discussion of an antelope. An antelope running wild on the plains of Africa should not be considered a document, she rules. But if it were to be captured, taken to a zoo and made an object of study, it has been made into a document. It has become physical evidence being used by those who study it. Not only that, but scholarly articles written about the antelope are secondary documents, since the antelope itself is the primary document. \[[What is a document? JASIS 1997](https://www.sims.berkeley.edu/~buckland/whatdoc.html?ref=lorcandempsey.net)\]

*Document* is a resonant word, as is, in a related way *record*. Which brings me back to a quote from [The Librarian](https://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/a4f7ce9ba7770346a19afeb4da09e526.html?ref=lorcandempsey.net), the recent satirical novel, which I used in an [earlier post](https://blog.oclc.org/lorcand/archives/000443.html?ref=lorcandempsey.net) about the role of libraries:

> ‘So why have I written this? I can’t show it if it’s going to contradict or undermine my case.

> There are a number of reasons. First and foremost, I am a librarian. I live for records and documents.’

(Coda: some parts of this post are more serious than others 😉