New Title Search and Manage Patron Services UX

The new Title Search and Manage Patron Services UX is the default system choice with the February 2025 Release. Although users can opt out from using the new UI, we encourage you to familiarize yourselves with the new UX.

Both the New Title Search and the new Manage Patron Services UX introduce enhanced functionality for a more efficient and user-friendly experience that won't be available in the classic UI. (See items following).

 Embracing these changes will help you take full advantage of the latest features and improvements.

View cataloger notes in title searches

As part of the title searches new UX, catalogers are now able to view notes added to local bibliographic records without having to open the Metadata Editor. Catalogers in consortia members are also able to view notes on NZ records.

This is helpful when catalogers want to quickly review notes added to search results, and identify records requiring work.

Repository search labels

In the new search UX (for title and holdings searches), it is now possible for admins and managers to add labels relevant to the local institution, which will then be available when searching, faceting and viewing search results.

 This enhances the search experience making it easier to organize and locate relevant information.

Updates to the holdings search 

The holdings search has been updated with recent new UX capabilities, such as: 

* Search results table view
* Search configuration - both at the institution level and the personal user level
* Performing more actions directly from the search results

These enhancements streamline workflows and improve overall efficiency for users.

Idea Exchange - Sound alerts at the Circulation Desk

In the new Manage Patron Services UX it is now possible to set up a sound alert that will be activated when a block appears during an item check-out.

 Using sound alerts improves the circulation desk operator's attention to blocks that need to be handled during check-out of an item.

AI Metadata Assistant

With the Alma February 2025 release, Phase I of the AI Metadata Assistant is now fully available, featuring:

• Improved Metadata: Enhanced metadata quality based on community feedback.
• Streamlined Workflow: Catalogers can upload up to four images and select templates for new records.
• Enhanced Library Control: Admins can set local normalization processes and merge rules for returned metadata.
• Version Tracking: The AI Metadata Assistant usage is recorded in the record versions.

 The AI Metadata Assistant streamlines cataloging workflows by providing helpful metadata suggestions to catalogers, making cataloging easier and more efficient.

For more information about the AI Metadata Assistant see the recording of the Alma 2025 Roadmap Webinar Series: The AI Metadata Assistant in the Metadata Editor

Bib heading linking rules factoring in subfield codes and diacritics

New Link BIB Headings Rules input parameters are now available, so as to improve institutions’ control over the automated linking of authority records.

 This gives libraries better control of automatic linking to authority records according to their specific needs.

Support for COUNTER R5.1 reports

Alma now supports loading COUNTER R5.1 reports, both manually and by SUSHI harvesting. You can read more about this report in this knowledge article.

 Loading R5.1 reports enhances the accuracy and reliability of usage data that libraries rely on for informed decision-making. By adhering to these updated standards, Alma ensures that usage statistics are collected consistently across various electronic resources, enabling librarians to effectively assess resource utilization and justify expenditures. 

Idea Exchange - Automatic Reflection of BIB Record Changes in PO Lines

Changes in BIB records are now reflected automatically in their related PO lines.

 Reflecting changes in the BIB record to its linked PO line increases order data accuracy and eliminates the need to manually update these PO lines.

CERV Enhancement - Updates to PO Line - Claiming scheduled job

The enhanced PO Line - Claiming scheduled job report streamlines the claim workflow by providing a detailed list of successful and failed claim letter sending to vendors, including information on the corresponding PO lines.

 This improvement saves customers several steps and simplifies the process, especially when dealing with vendors who have extensive lists of PO lines in claim. By offering a clear and concise report, users are now able to manage claims more efficiently and effectively.

Opening hours configuration in the Consortia Central Configuration Dashboard

The Network Zone operator is now able to manage standard opening hours, including calendar management, summary information, contact details, and IP addresses, from the Central Configuration Dashboard at both the institution and library levels, as appropriate.

It is also possible to distribute calendar information from the Central Configuration Dashboard to institution members using one of the existing distribution modes (Proposed, Imposed, Hybrid) from the Network Zone level to the Institution Zone level, while maintaining the current behavior.

 These enhancements increase efficiency by enabling the centralized management of opening hours at the Network Zone level and allowing the distribution of calendar information to members for a better collaboration.

Configuration links from the 'old' menu will be hidden

The Network Zone Administrator now no longer sees the old links for the Code/Mapping Tables in the Alma menu while operating at the Network Zone institution. These links are only available from the Central Configuration Dashboard.​

 This change streamlines navigation and improves efficiency for the Network Administrator.

CERV Enhancement - Mark in-process items as 'missing'

It is now possible to change the status of an in-process item to be considered 'missing' directly from the items list.

 This enables the simple management of missing items that were previously part of a library process.

Single copy Network Zone administration view

As part of the Collection Development Initiative, this data visualization workbook provides the main office in a Network Zone with an overview of their single copies across the entire network, helping to facilitate both retention and deselection processes. 

 This feature helps networks better understand their print collections, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions.