The thesis explores resource descriptions in the Herbert Blomstedt Collection (HBC) – a special collection at Gothenburg University Library. Many resources in the HBC are represented in two parallel metadata representations; a physical catalogue card made by Herbert Blomstedt and a digital catalogue record made by the librarians at Gothenburg University Library. The aim of the study is to examine how different aspects of the resources – bibliographic, material and contextual information – are made visible or omitted. This is achieved by applying the IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) and Resource Description and Access (RDA) properties. The results show that while the library’s digital catalogues emphasise standardisation and interoperability, they sometimes exclude detailed, item-specific data that are central to understanding the collection’s provenance and cultural value. In contrast, Blomstedt’s catalogue cards are rich in contextual information and offer a more exploratory resource description, but at the cost of standardisation and searchability. The study argues that representing item-specific aspects of special collections is challenging within current metadata frameworks. RDA-properties make space for this type of information but require time-consuming and careful application. The thesis contributes to an understanding of the role of cataloguing in cultural heritage management and the accessibility of special collections in academic libraries.