Resource Management

Overview

Alma provides you with the ability to manage all aspects of physical, electronic and digital resources. Robust workflows ensure that inventory of any type is handled efficiently, easily, and quickly. Inventory management workflows are fully integrated with acquisitions and fulfillment as well as all aspects of resource availability.

Roadmap

2025 H1	2025 H2	2026 H1
Physical Holdings Search - Enhanced UX Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings - SAGE Comprehensive Identifier Integration in Overlap Analysis Display Logic Rules - Shared Network Zone Choices in Institution Zone Flexibility in the Definition of CZ Updates Behavior for New and Deleted Portfolios	User Preference for Physical Item Sort Routines Physical Holdings Retention Automated Bibliographic Record Suppression Insights Specto - Digital Collections Platform	Physical Items Staff Search – Early Access to Enhanced UX Community Zone Update Task List - Early Access Enhanced UX Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings - Oxford University Press E-Resource Overview- Out-of-the-box Insight Dashboard

2025 H1

Physical Holdings Staff Search – Enhanced UX

Repository Search
Enhanced UX

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
The Physical Holdings Staff Search will be updated with various improvements for better usability, performance, productivity, and overall user experience.	Ability to configure actions order according to user's preferences. Ability to configure sections order according to user's preferences. Ability to configure the information visible in search results. More information and actions available in items section.	The user will be able to quickly find holdings and perform actions as needed.

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Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings - SAGE

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Upload Electronic Holdings from SAGE will replace the current manual, multi-step workflow for managing SAGE holdings.	Customer-specific electronic holdings for SAGE content will be activated automatically. The integration runs on a fixed schedule.	Reduces manual work involved in activating and maintaining the library holdings of SAGE electronic resources.

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Comprehensive Identifier Integration in Overlap Analysis

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Overlap Analysis tool will support comparison using multiple identifiers.	It will be possible to select multiple match methods and the order in which they will be used. The report will include information on the matched identifier and its value.	Enhanced overlap analysis features will facilitate decision-making in purchasing.

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Display Logic Rules - Shared Network Zone Choices in Institution Zone

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Network members will be able to create Display Logic rules with a combination of e-resources managed centrally and locally, coming from the Network Zone and from the local institution.	When configuring a Display logic rule in a consortia member, it will be possible to choose Network Zone electronic collections as part of the rule criteria.	Better usability of electronic resources activated at both levels will improve the consortia's management of electronic resources.

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Flexibility in the Definition of CZ Updates Behavior for New and Deleted Portfolios

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
It will be possible to define separately different behaviors for new and deleted Community Zone portfolios.	Upon activation of a Community Zone service, It will be possible to select whether to Delete portfolios removed from service automatically, separately from the Activate new portfolios associated with service automatically definition. This definition will be considered during the Community Zone synchronization job.	Better flexibility in the definition of Community Zone updates behavior. This will ease the management of electronic collections.

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2025 H2

User Preference for Physical Item Sort Routine

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Alma will remember the user's selected sort routine in the physical items list.	When viewing the items list, the sorting will not default to Library/Location, but to the last sort routine selected by the user.	The user will be able to easily scan the items list in the sort relevant for their needs, without having to reselect it each time.

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Physical Holdings Retention

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Alma will support retention of the holdings record, in addition to the existing retention of physical items and bibliographic records.	It will be possible to prevent the deletion of a holdings record containing a retention note, so the information in the holdings record is not lost. Operators attempting to delete a holdings record that is committed to retain will be notified of its status.	The ability to prevent deletion of holding records will ease the management for institutions that maintain their retention information in the holdings record.

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Automated Bibliographic Record Suppression

CERV CERV Enhancement (ID #8182)

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
It will be possible to automatically suppress bibliographic records from PrimoVE, in case they do not have available inventory and do not have relations. This behavior will be optional.	Titles without available inventory will not appear in PrimoVE search. Inactive portfolios will be considered "no available inventory". If the bibliographic record is part of a relation, it will not be automatically suppressed. This will be the situation regardless of the “Suppress” status that appears as an eye icon in Alma or the workflow which deleted/deactivated the inventory.	A streamlined process for suppressing bibliographic records when there is no available inventory ensures that patrons are offered with available resources in discovery.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

It will be possible to automatically suppress bibliographic records from PrimoVE, in case they do not have available inventory and do not have relations.

This behavior will be optional.

Titles without available inventory will not appear in PrimoVE search.
Inactive portfolios will be considered "no available inventory".
If the bibliographic record is part of a relation, it will not be automatically suppressed.
This will be the situation regardless of the “Suppress” status that appears as an eye icon in Alma or the workflow which deleted/deactivated the inventory.

A streamlined process for suppressing bibliographic records when there is no available inventory ensures that patrons are offered with available resources in discovery.

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Insights

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Starting with electronic resources, Alma will provide insights about library activity, related to electronic resources.	Different types of insights will be presented to electronic resource librarians, for example: Most used collections Number of activations etc...	Instead of the users having to generate Analytics reports, the bottom line will be provided to them, increasing efficiency and understanding of the library's activity.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

Starting with electronic resources, Alma will provide insights about library activity, related to electronic resources.

Different types of insights will be presented to electronic resource librarians, for example:

Most used collections
Number of activations
etc...

Instead of the users having to generate Analytics reports, the bottom line will be provided to them, increasing efficiency and understanding of the library's activity.

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Specto - Digital Collections Platform

Specto is an AI-powered digital collection platform designed to open new doors to libraries’ digital assets. Built on Alma and the Library Open Platform, Specto connects all stages of digital collection management — from metadata creation and cataloging to exhibition and preservation — enabling librarians and archivists to share the stories behind their collections.

The first and major release of Specto will be throughout Q4 of 2025. At that point, any customers who will have Alma Digital will be upgraded to Specto Essentials, which will not include all the advanced features introduced in the complete Specto solution, but will include improved discovery and simplified menus. The upgrade won't impact existing workflows run by institutions and won't require an implementation project.

The main functional pillars of Specto are:

AI-driven metadata creation

The AI Metadata Assistant automatically generates detailed, high-quality metadata at scale, using advanced technologies like Named Entity Recognition (NER) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Library staff can review and approve the metadata. This not only speeds up cataloging but also ensures consistency, accuracy, and seamless connections through Linked Open Data.

Immersive discovery tools

Specto empowers end-users to engage deeply with collections through tools like the Online Exhibition and delivery pages. These features transform digital collections into dynamic, interactive experiences, guiding users through curated pathways and broadening their access to invaluable resources.

Digital preservation for future access

Specto’s preservation capabilities safeguard digital collections for future generations. By addressing challenges like obsolescence and accessibility, Specto ensures that digital culture remains secure and accessible over time.

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2026 H1

Physical Items Staff Search – Early Access to Enhanced UX

Repository Search
Enhanced UX

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
The Physical Items Search will be updated and redesigned for better usability, performance, productivity, and overall user experience.	Ability to use multi-value selection facets. Ability to perform cross-page bulk operations. Display more information. Quickly perform actions on items.	The user will be able to quickly find and perform actions on items.

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Community Zone Update Task List - Early Access Enhanced UX

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
The "Community Zone Update" Task List will be redesigned for better usability, performance, productivity, and overall user experience.	Additional faceting options and improved display. Ability to define personalized faceted lists. Electronic resource representation in a sliding panel to remain in the context. Improved bulk management options.	Streamline navigation and enhance usability for efficient electronic resource management.

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Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings - Oxford University Press

Idea Exchange

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Upload Electronic Holdings from Oxford University Press will replace the current manual, multi-step workflow for managing Oxford University Press holdings.	Customer-specific electronic holdings for Oxford University Press content will be activated automatically. The integration runs on a fixed schedule.	Reduces manual work involved in activating and maintaining the library holdings of Oxford University Press electronic resources.

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E-Resource Overview - Out-of-the-box Insight Dashboard

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
An out-of-the-box insight dashboard providing an overview of E-Resource activity.	Out-of-the-box Data Visualization Project. Insights into the availability of electronic resources and the catalog's growth over time. Much more...	Providing e-resource librarians an overview of the resource activity to enable them to meet their KPIs and increase efficiency.

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