Alma will allow libraries to combine innovative AI solutions along with expert cataloging knowledge to easily and efficiently create and enrich bibliographic data.

• Creating MARC 21 English records using information such as the title and/or images of the resource (e.g. back cover, title page, colophon).

• Enriching existing MARC 21 English records for books.

• Giving catalogers an AI assistant that can suggest relevant metadata they can use, such as LC subjects, summary notes, etc.

• Expanding the AI generated metadata suggestions from the library's templates

• Configurable normalization of the AI generated metadata suggestions

Reduce the time and effort a cataloger spends on creating or enriching each bibliographic record.

• Admin will be able to disable certain metadata requests at the institution level, reducing the likelihood of certain metadata being generated by the AI

• Admin can define whether to send the AI a summary request, and if so - whether to request a copied and/or generated summary

• Cataloger will be able to select what metadata to request the AI to generate (e.g. only request a table of contents enrichment when uploading an image of the table of contents)

By working with normalization rules, the institution will be able to manipulate its metadata using XSL, enabling complex transformations with a powerful programming language.

• When creating new normalization rules, the option to use XSL will be available.

• By utilizing XSL normalization rules, one can apply complex or advanced logic for metadata normalization and manipulation.

• A new user privilege will give the institution's administrator control over who is granted access to this new functionality.

Using a programming language to manipulate metadata records enables the implementation of complex logic.

Based on the Alma Authority Focus Group (AAFG) feedback, libraries will be able to select whether to force subfields to be considered when linking to bibliographic headings.

Bibliographic record fields only link to authority headings if the matching content is in the same subfields.

The linking will accurately reflect not only matching content but also matching cataloged subfields.

Based on work and feedback from the Alma Authority Focus Group (AAFG), Alma will control the name portion of the name/title combination so that changes to the authorized form in the name authority record will be reflected in the bibliographic heading.

• When a name/title bibliographic heading does not match an authority record, but there is a matching name authority, the heading will be partially linked to it.

• When the authorized form of a name changes, the change will be reflected in partially-linked name/title headings.

• Expanding the linked data enrichment process to the cataloging workflow from existing authorities.

• Support adding URIs permanently to the records.

• The process will be configurable to match each institution's needs. 

Searching for Linked Open Data Work records and view related information in Alma's catalog.

• It will be possible to search for Linked Open Data Work records by the record's metadata.

• The search will display all Instance records linked to the Work record.

The cataloger will have a simpler and quicker process for identifying Work records and the Instances linked to them.

Local authorities can be linked to other authorities using VIAF and gain linked data capabilities.

• Adding configurations extract global IDs to map local authorities to VIAF clusters.

• Enhancing linked data functionalities for local authorities, such as displaying info cards and contributor pages and enabling URI enrichment.

Librarians can extract global IDs from local authorities and map to VIAF and experience linked data enhancements.

• Work with our global community to responsibly widen the AI Metadata Assistant capabilities to support cataloging in more languages.

Reduce the time and effort a cataloger spends on creating or enriching bibliographic records.

• Support for more Community Zone authority vocabularies - early access.

• Work with our global community to responsibly widen the AI Metadata Assistant capabilities to support more subject authorities.

Reduce the time and effort a cataloger spends on creating or enriching bibliographic records.

• The library will be able to create brief records for uncataloged resources

• The library will be able to choose whether AI generated brief records will be created as suppressed, to be reviewed by catalogers before becoming visible to patrons in discovery

When working in the MD Editor catalogers will be able to open a dialog box and select a special character to enter into the record.

• Metadata Editor will have a dialog box containing special characters, where the operator can select the special character.

• Selecting the special character will insert it where the cursor indicator was when the dialog box was opened.

• The dialog box will be opened using a menu option or a keyboard shortcut.

Cataloging records with special characters will be more convenient and efficient.

A new validation process based on the EDTF standard will be available for MARC date/time fields.

• A new validation process based on the EDTF standard will be available.
• Predefined fields will be eligible for applying the new EDTF validation.
• The new validation process can be applied either when saving records or during the matching process.

Catalogers who need the EDTF standard applied to specific date/time fields can now utilize the new validation process for their institution's data.

Administrators will be able to create custom bibliographic search indexes in Staff Search for specific MARC fields to address the institution’s needs.

For example, create a text-based search index based on metadata from MARC field 306.

Allow the option to create custom search indexes for specific MARC fields.

Empower the library to better search and manage its metadata by allowing the creation of customized search indexes. These tailored indexes will enable more precise and efficient searches, giving the library greater control over how its data is organized and accessed, and allowing it to align the search functionality with its specific needs and priorities.