Recommendation 1: Create the element Manifestation: extent of unit
Comment: Generally agree - but where is the text of the instructions? This proposal stops after the definition & Prerecording section. For suggested new elements, I expected to see the full text, even if it is as brief as note on collective agent. To fully understand how all of these proposals interrelate, the full context would be helpful.
Recommendation 2: Update Manifestation: bibliographic format
Agree
Recommendation 3: Update Manifestation: number of recording tracks [current label: tape configuration]
Agree.
Question: Is there any impact on the track configuration element? (Perhaps not; this was not raised by the WG.)
Recommendation 4: Update Manifestation: dimensions
Generally agree, with the following comments:
Recommendation 4.3: Move the instructions under Recording an unstructured description to Community Resources
Agree, but with the following observation. This affects a large number of instructions and will have a significant impact on Policy Statement writers to determine how to guide their communities in the future.
Recommendation 4.4: Specify a stipulated order for dimensions of various carriers
Generally agree; I assume that the ability to continue current practices, like omitting width for most volumes will be able to continue as an unstructured description.
I was surprised not to find a definition of "cylinder" in RDA (official or original) or even AACR2. Same with the unqualified "cartridge" and the term "belt". These are worthy additions!
Recommendation 5: Vocabulary and glossary updates for units used in Manifestation: extent of unit.
Generally agree, with the following comment:
Recommendation 5.5: Add folded leaf to the glossary.
The explanation for this new definition says that it "treats a folded leaf like a folded sheet but bound in a volume." I don't see this encompassed in the proposed definition, which mentions nothing about binding or volumes: "A physical unit that derives from a single sheet; each folded leaf is designed to have a layout of embodied content in pages when folded."
Based on this definition, I don't understand the difference between this & folded sheet: "A unit of extent that consists of a sheet designed to be read in pages when folded."
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Kathy Glennan
Director, Cataloging & Metadata Services
University of Maryland Libraries
she/her/hers
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Original Message:
Sent: Dec 18, 2025 03:33 PM
From: Shelby Anderson
Subject: Request for Comment: Proposal for Manifestation: Extent of Unit and its Subtype Elements
The new proposed definitions are much more clear, and the newly proposed terms would improve the glossary. I have no concerns with this proposal.
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Shelby Anderson
Manager, Catalog Management Unit
Yale University
She/Her/Hers
Original Message:
Sent: Nov 18, 2025 03:38 PM
From: Karl Pettitt
Subject: Request for Comment: Proposal for Manifestation: Extent of Unit and its Subtype Elements
Below is the abstract for this proposal. Please see the attached for the full proposal and comment no later than Monday, December, 22, 2025.
Abstract
As a subelement of Manifestation: extent of manifestation, the proposed element Manifestation: extent of unit and its subtypes are used to record quantifications and measurements of aspects of a manifestation that are available to hold content. These measurements include components or characteristics that do not embody content.
For the following existing elements, the proposal is to establish them as subtypes of Manifestation: extent of unit. Any existing subtype hierarchy for these elements will remain in place when they become subtypes of Manifestation: extent of unit. This creates the flexibility for these elements to be used to contribute values to Manifestation: extent of manifestation when using a string encoding scheme to construct a new value for extent of manifestation.
Manifestation: bibliographic format
Manifestation: dimensions
Manifestation: number of recording tracks [current label: tape configuration]
The term leaf and related and derivative terms will need to have definitions clarified to indicate that these terms are for units that are available to hold content and include units that do not embody content. The related terms are: panel, folded leaf, and updating loose-leaf.
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Karl Pettitt
Coordinator of Cataloging and Metadata Services
University of Denver Libraries
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