May 2024 Feature Release Highlights
Linked Open Data - Support for BIBFRAME
Alma is a multi-format system that supports BIBFRAME Works and Instances. Records in this format can now be used in Alma workflows, such as resource management, acquisitions, fulfillment, and support for discovery.
These features will continue to expand and evolve as new capabilities are developed for BIBFRAME.
For more information, see BIBFRAME Support - Ex Libris Knowledge Center (exlibrisgroup.com).
BIBFRAME is the first step in a bigger vision of supporting Linked Open Data formats.
To activate BIBFRAME functionalities in your Alma environment, please contact Ex Libris customer support.
Users can work in Alma with BIBFRAME works and instances alongside other record formats as part of Alma's core workflows. This flexibility ensures that institutions can adopt linked data at their own pace, without disrupting their existing processes.
Linked Open Data - Enrichment Configuration
Institutions can now configure the linked data enrichment of MARC records. They can choose which authorities to enrich and to which subfield ($0 / $1); whether to add VIAF URIs, and add additional authorities to the enrichment, including local authorities that support URIs.
This gives institutions better control over their linked data enrichment of MARC records.
Idea Exchange - Physical Item Templates
It is now possible to save an existing physical item as a template, and use that template when manually creating new physical items to pre-populate fields such as notes, item policy, material type, temporary location etc.
Saving an item as a template:
Creating an item from a template:
This is useful for physical inventory operators who create many similar items, making item creation easier and more efficient.
Automatic Upload Electronic Holdings from JSTOR (Books) and Preselect
2 additional providers are now supported by the Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings feature:
- JSTOR (books)
Idea Exchange - Preselect
Libraries can easily update their holdings for these providers through the Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings feature. When activated, this process automatically downloads a file with your holdings information from the provider platform in a standardized format (KBART), and then updates your holdings in the corresponding collection.
These integrations eliminate the need for manual updates of the corresponding provider’s collections, saving staff manual labor and time, and improving accuracy and efficiency.
Idea Exchange - Create record versions for changes in a record's management tag
Previously, management tags (such as "Suppressed from discovery") were not recorded in the record versions, and it was not possible to see at what time or by whom the record was suppressed, unsuppressed, etc.
This information is now recorded and made visible in the record versions: When a record's management tag is changed, a version is created, showing the previous value for the tag.
This is especially useful for monitoring who made a specific change to a management tag, such as suppressing a record from discovery.
Order It! - Quick Ordering from Amazon
A browser add-on now allows for harvesting the metadata and creating the order automatically. The user no longer needs to access Alma in order to record the order information.
Users can utilize new streamlined options for creating PO lines from Amazon.
"Assigned to Others" PO lines
"Assigned to Others" PO lines are now displayed for the user role "Purchasing Operator". The display of these orders, with this user role, is in 'view only' mode.
This helps in capturing an accurate overview of the ongoing work and prevent the occurrence of duplicate orders.
Idea Exchange - Permanently delete license records
Users can now permanently remove deleted licenses from the list of Licenses using the delete action.
In addition, it is now possible to mark licenses as inactive using a new “Deactivate” action.
License with the previous status "Deleted" will get the status "Inactive". These licenses will remain in the licenses list and will not be automatically removed. You can manually remove them using the enhanced “Delete” action.
Users can now view a more relevant list of license records.
![Digital Resource Management.png](https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/@api/deki/files/168420/Digital_Resource_Management.png?revision=1)
Idea Exchange - Closed captions and subtitles for video content
Institutions are now able to associate captions with video files stored in Alma, which will then be available for end users.
This improves the accessibility and user experience for consuming video content.
Patron or staff deposit forms for MODS
It is now possible to configure deposit forms per collection for digital resources for MODS records, aligning with Dublin Core and MARC.
Staff and patrons have better control over creation of, or receiving MODS content.
More granular Design Analytics roles
It is now possible to configure new and more granular analytics roles which are limited to specific Subject Areas. The existing general Design Analytics role is still available and if active, will override the more granular roles.
This feature supports granular design roles which can be assigned according the responsibilities and information the analytics designer is allowed to see.
LibInsight “Gate Counts” and “Reference data” added to ACRL/IPEDS report
The out of the box ACRL/IPEDS analytics dashboard, which assists in the submission of the US government-required reports, includes two new tabs ‘Library Services to Individuals’ and ‘Gate Counts’. These tabs are both derived from Springshare’s LibInsight data, made possible by the new capability that integrates Alma Analytics with the LibInsight API.
Customers reporting to ACRL/IPEDS can gather much of the necessary information in one place, rather than having to collect the data from different platforms.
Support parallel work in multiple tabs in browser
A user can now open and login to the same Alma environment in two or more tabs of an internet browser and work in parallel in multiple tabs without one tab impacting the others.
Staff can be more productive and efficient, for example, by being able to open records in parallel browser tabs and copying information from one tab to another.
NERS Enhancement - Scheduling support for manual jobs (Run a job)
Alma has implemented a new scheduler that users can use to proactively schedule jobs, whether they are periodic tasks or one-time operations. This feature enables jobs to be executed automatically, accommodating scenarios where tasks need to be performed outside regular working hours or when a staff member is unavailable to execute them manually.
Staff are able to schedule jobs at a time convenient for them.