Overview
The integration of Summon and Alma allows users to search a single index that includes a central index (approximately two billion records), your local data defined in Alma, and any non-Alma institutional repositories and LibGuides that were previously set up when the library administered Summon through the Client Center or Intota. The following figure shows the discovery flow between Summon and Alma.
The following functionality is configured with or provided by Summon:
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Users can perform a search in Summon and access a local Alma record's services (such as View It and Get It), which are provided by the Services page in Alma.
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Harvesting of local Alma bibliographic records (physical, electronic, and digital) and electronic holdings.
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The ability to search non-Alma institutional repositories and LibGuides, which are identified by a database ID. Because these repositories are defined as local electronic collections in Alma, services for these records are provided by the Services page as well.
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Publisher resources that utilize IEDL (Index-Enhanced Direct Linking) will link directly to the content provider from Summon results. Otherwise, the record's services will come from the Services page, which utilizes Alma's link resolver.
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A Journal Search hyperlink is provided in Summon to access the Journal Search page, which is provided by and configured in Alma. For more information, see Journal Search Page.
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A My Account hyperlink is provided in Summon to access users' library cards, which are managed by Alma.
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The Course Reserves View allows users to view and search course reserves information, which is defined in Alma/Leganto. For more information, see Using the Course Reserves View and Configuring the Course Reserves View.
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A Collection Discovery hyperlink is provided in Summon to access the Collections Lobby page in Alma. For more information, see Managing Collections in Alma.
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A Citation Linker hyperlink is provided in Summon to access the Fetch Items page in Alma.
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An ILL hyperlink is provided in Summon to access the Resource Request form in Alma.
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The Services page allows users to access services for a local record in Alma. For example, these services may allow users to request physical items from the library or view full text for a journal. For more information, see the following sections: Configuring the Services Page, Modifying Labels on the Services Page, Configuring Requests Forms, and Branding the Services Page.
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Authentication allows users to access services that are provided by the library. For more information, see Configuring Alma User Authentication.
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The Journal Search page is provided by and configured in Alma. For more information, see Journal Search Page.
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The Library Card allows users to track requests, fines and fees, and current loans. For more information, see Modifying Labels on Library Cards.
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Publish bibliographic records and electronic holdings to update Summon's search index.
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The support of non-Alma institutional repositories and LibGuides. These databases must be defined as local electronic collections in Alma and include an associated database ID, which is defined in Summon. For more information on configuring local electronic collections, see Adding New Institutional Repositories and LibGuides.
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The Alma Link Resolver replaces functionality that 360 Link previously provided.
Most Alma configurations associated with discovery are configured with Alma's Discovery module, and administrators will require the Discovery - Admin role to view and manage its settings.