February 2024 Feature Release Sneak Preview
Our February 2024 Feature Release showcases a new look for the Alma login screen, and a new login theme for the year - Libraries of Tomorrow. The theme for the February Feature release is Collection Development. Collection Development will be an important element in the Alma Road Map for 2024 and beyond.
You can read about the first analytics dashboard that will give insight into retention and deselection decisions below.
The following is a Sneak Preview of the Alma February 2024 Feature Release. The content might be subject to change in the deployed release.
“Books: Retention & Deselection - Institutional Level” Insight Dashboard
A new Out-of-the-Box Data Visualization workbook will be released and accessible in the Out-of-the-Box object list. This dynamic dashboard is specifically crafted to address various queries that institutions might encounter when making decisions regarding Retention and Deselection. The dashboard will provide insightful visuals and answers to questions such as:
- Determining which library holds the highest number of single copies.
- Highlighting titles marked for retention.
- Identifying titles with a low copy-to-loan ratio.
- Analyzing P & E overlap
...and more.
It will also be possible to set this dashboard as an optional home page in Alma using the the new “Add as Homepage Dashboard” feature. Whether you are seeking information on single copies, retention decisions, and any other institutional level collection analysis, this new workbook will provide a comprehensive and visually engaging tool for effective decision-making in library management.
Libraries will be able to more easily manage their collections and identify potential retention and deselection opportunities.
Books Retention dashboard
Books Deselection Dashboard
New Layout for PO Line Task Lists will be the Exclusive Option
With the February 2024 Feature Release the PO line will transition to its final phase will be the only interface for all users. The classic interface will be officially "Sunset". If you selected not to use the new PO line UI, we strongly encourage you to start doing so in order to get accustomed to it before the February 2024 release.
For a general overview of the new PO Lines task list, see the New Unified PO Line Task List. See also Searching for PO Lines - New Layout; Managing PO Lines - New Layout.
For more information see also the New Unified PO Line Task List in the Alma 2023 Roadmap Webinar Series
Users will have a more streamlined experience, more information available upfront, new search and facet options and many more advantages.
Idea Exchange - Ability to bulk delete harvested SUSHI COUNTER reports
In order to improve the efficiency of users managing SUSHI harvested COUNTER report, an ability will be added to pages that will allow users to select more than one file from the list of the downloaded report to bulk delete these files. In addition, a “select all” and "Delete all" option will be added.
Customers will be able to manage their lists of downloaded SUSHI COUNTER files more efficiently by running bulk delete actions.
Upload Electronic Holdings from Taylor and Francis
Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings will allow libraries to update their holdings in the Taylor and Francis journal collection. Once enabled, the process will automatically download a KBART formatted holdings file from the Taylor & Francis platform, upload the file and update your holdings in the Taylor and Francis collection.
Automated upload of electronic holdings for Taylor & Francis journals will save staff time and manual labor, and will improve accuracy and efficiency.
Idea Exchange - Configurable physical item condition
Libraries will be able to configure the list of physical conditions that can be selected to describe the item in the physical item condition field.
This is useful to libraries that require a more varied list of terms to describe their items' physical condition.
Idea Exchange - Linked Open Data enrichment for IdRef authorities
The Linked Data enrichment process for bibliographic records that are linked to IdRef authorities will now also generate URIs to the IdRef authority records, so that libraries that work with IdRef authorities can benefit from their Linked Open Data capabilities.
This is especially useful for institutions that work with IdRef authorities and would like to add URIs when publishing the records or see the URI as part of the linked data action in the All Titles search.
Filtering Holdings Sets Using Indication Rules
It will be possible to filter sets of holdings records directly using indication rules when saving a holdings search or using the "Filter Set" option in the Manage Sets page.
Creating indication rules using a form will now also support rules based on holdings records' metadata.to create form-based indication rules for holdings records, in addition to bibliographic and authority records. It will also be possible to apply the indication rules to holdings sets on the Manage Sets page.
This will be particularly useful for libraries that want to filter their holdings sets by metadata that is not available as part of the search indexes.
Overlap Analysis report will include Link Resolver usage data
The "Analysis information" tab in the excel report generated from the overlap analysis will be enhanced to present the usage range (past 12 months).
Electronic Portfolios which are part of the report will have dedicated columns to present the portfolio's link resolver usage. This information will be identical to the information in Alma analytics and from the Alma UI.
This information will help staff understand the value of the portfolio - based on its usage.
Convert Itemized Collection sets to Logical Collection sets (and vice versa)
It will be possible to convert existing Collections to a Logical Collection and vice versa. This will allow institutions to easily migrate their existing repository to a logical-based hierarchy without duplicating collections.
This will save time and duplicate collections when starting to implement logical collections.
Deliver ePub via the Alma Viewer
The Alma Viewer will display ePub files to end users with an intuitive and accessible embedded 3rd party viewer.
The range of content deliverable via out of box viewers in Alma Digital will be expanded.
Support for OAI-PMH harvest of MODS repositories
in addition to the existing MARC and Dublin Core, It will be possible to harvest remote MODS repositories into Alma, supporting the creation and update of records in Alma with a remote representation. As part of the import profile, users will be able to configure matching methods, normalizations and more.
This will expand the range of repositories that can be integrated with Alma.
Support for visiting patrons functionality using the Inn-Reach D2IR API
It will be possible to integrate Alma with Inn-Reach using version 3 of the D2IR API. When using this version of the API, Alma and Inn-Reach can be used in an integrated manner for supporting the Visiting Patrons workflow, in addition to the classic resource sharing requesting workflow.
This will enable to use Alma and Inn-Reach in an integrated manner for supporting the Visiting Patrons workflow in addition to the classic resource sharing requesting workflow
Conditional digital document delivery
Lenders that provide a document delivery service will be able to indicate whether the supplied document may be made available to the patron in digital form, or whether the digital content will require manual handling by the borrower staff. For example, printing a physical copy that can be shared with the patron as a non-returnable item.
This new option will enhance copyright control, by enabling lender libraries to indicate to the borrower libraries the terms and conditions by which the digital content may be shared with the requesting patrons.
Previous temporary locations in resource sharing requests
Alma will correctly handle the check in of items in temporary locations that were shipped for fulfilling a lending resource sharing request. When checked back in, the item will be restored to the temporary location where it was previously shelved.
This will enable libraries to ship items or fulfilling resource sharing requests even if they are shelved at temporary locations, and enable them to be reshelved to the temporary locations when checked back in.
Hotkeys and responsiveness to voice dictation software
Librarians will be able to select from the top right icons using hotkeys or use voice dictation software to reduce the amount of mousing.
This will make Alma more accessible.