Alma 2026 Release Notes
Release:
Main Features
New Partners Fields in Resource Sharing Partner Record
Additional fields were added to the Resource Sharing Partner record (Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Partners) to enable further customization. The following fields were added:
- Alternate Account Number — Free text field that, in addition to an alternate symbol, enables additional information to be stored on the partner record.
- Account Allowances — Populated by customizable drop down options. Multiple selections can be made to designate additional partner information.
- Sector — Populated by customizable drop down options to enable additional information to be stored on the partner record.
- Send Communications Allowed — The value is checked/unchecked. Some libraries may want to note if marketing materials can be delivered to partners or not.
- Organization Type — Populated by customizable drop down options to enable additional information to be stored on the partner record.
For more information, see Resource Sharing Partners.
Temporarily Deactivate Lending for Different Formats
Lenders now have the ability to selectively deactivate specific lending services rather than deactivate all services. Previously, lenders could only deactivate all lending operations at once. Now they can decide whether to deactivate Everything, temporarily deactivate Physical lending while keeping digital services active, or temporarily deactivate Digital from Physical lending while continuing physical shipping or electronic lending.
This provides lenders with more flexibility to handle temporary disruptions without having to fully stop their lending services.
For more information, see Configuring Parameters of a Resource Sharing Library.
Details in Alma Metadata History
Idea Exchange URM-317895Alma now tracks the metadata changes made in the Resource Information section. They are recorded and viewable in the History tab of the request.
For more information, see Managing Borrowing Requests.
Location Level Best Copy for Fulfilling a Request
For more information, see Pickup at Shelf and Configuring Libraries.
Add Notes in Deliver Digital Documents Page
Idea Exchange URM-167540It is now possible to add notes to partner and internal notes when using Deliver Digital Documents to fulfill a document delivery request.
This enhances communication with borrowers and facilitates the recording of internal information when providing a document delivery service.
The two note fields were also added to the Download Electronic Resource page.
For more information, see Managing Lending Requests.
Ship Lending Requests Without Barcode
It is now possible to ship items when fulfilling resource sharing lending requests, even when they do not have a barcode. In this case, the ship and check-in actions are used by selecting the items from pickup lists. This impacts the Ship Items page and the Scan-In Items page.
The Item ID of shipped items can be added to the displayed information about a lending request's items. When shipping an item without a barcode, this will be the only unique identifier that can be displayed.
For more information, see Peer to Peer Resource Sharing and Scanning Items.
Override Hold Policies
Idea Exchange URM-317447When placing a hold, booking, or digitization request in Alma, the operator is shown any blocks that may affect the request. Operators with the new Override Patron Hold Blocks privilege can override these blocks. If you would like this functionality enabled, please contact the Alma Support team and request that the relevant privilege be activated for your institution.
This provides transparency around blocked requests and enables authorized overrides.
The privilege will appear for all roles that have the Override Block Request privilege. For existing customers, the privilege will be disabled. For new customers, the privilege will be enabled by default for the Circulation Desk Manager and Fulfillment Services Manager roles.
For more information, see Managing Patron Services at a Circulation Desk and Privileges for Roles in Alma.
View Mode for Courses in Course Reserves
A new privilege was added to the Course Reserves Viewer role, enabling users to view the list of courses in view mode (and not only reading lists and citations).
This impacts Alma users who should not be able to edit courses, reading lists and citations, but should be able to view all of them.
If you would like this functionality enabled, please contact the Alma Support team and request that the relevant privilege be activated for your institution.
For more information, see Managing User Roles, Privileges for Roles in Alma and Roles and Registration Configuration.
Automatic Waiver of Overdue Fines for Re-loaned Items
Idea Exchange URM-90892When an item currently on loan is checked out to a new patron, Alma may automatically check in the previous loan, depending on the configuration (Configuration > Fulfillment > Physical Fulfillment > Block Preferences) for the Item is currently on loan by another patron action. This automatic check-in can result in overdue fines for the prior borrower. Institutions can now configure Alma to automatically waive these fines or allow circulation staff performing the check-out to decide whether the fines should be waived.
For more information, see Configuring Loans and Patron Charges Configuration.
Automatic Selection of Library Digitization Department
Alma now intelligently selects the most suitable library-level digitization department for newly created Patron Digitization Requests and Ship Digitally requests. This enhancement applies in scenarios where the system automatically assigns a digitization department, including:
- Requests submitted via Primo
- Requests automatically generated from incoming resource sharing transactions
In both cases, Alma prioritizes digitization departments that are also configured as circulation desks and are responsible for reshelving the requested items.
For more information, see Configuring Fulfillment Jobs and Creating a Request from the Institution.
Differentiated User Groups in Fulfillment Networks Based on Source Institution
Idea Exchange URM-93337
The external user groups are configured in Alma from Configuration > User Management > External User Group.
For more information, see Linking Users in Collaborative Networks and Configuring External User Groups.
Pop-Up Notification for Hold Shelf Items
CERV Enhancement (ID#247150) URM-247150Libraries can now enable a pop-up alert at the circulation desk, upon logging into the Manage Patron Services page, to notify operators when a patron has an associated system note, such as a note about items waiting on a hold shelf. The notification contains the same information as that in the System notes.
This feature helps ensure that staff are promptly informed and reduces the risk of missing important hold messages during interactions with patrons. The pop-up can be enabled using the popup_message_system_notes parameter in Configuration > Fulfillment > Other Settings.
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Selecting OK in the pop-up dismisses the message and leaves the user in the Manage Patron Services page.
For more information, see Configuring Fulfillment Jobs and Managing Patron Services.
Prioritizing Locations for Fulfilling Digitization Requests
For more information, see Configuring Physical Locations, Creating a Request from the Institution and Managing Lending Requests.
New Linked Open Data (LOD) Editor for BIBFRAME Records, Now Available in Alma
This is a new world of Linked Open Data cataloging, streamlined and embedded into Alma and Alma workflows, enabling institutions to embrace BIBFRAME within their familiar workflows while maintaining MARC records alongside them within the same environment.
The new LOD editor is now available to all institutions that want to catalog and edit BIBFRAME records directly within Alma. With the new editor, catalogers can create and edit BIBFRAME works and instances in a seamless, navigation-friendly experience, including quick editing from within the search results and a draft management page for those who wish to work in a separate workflow.
The new editor is guided by the BIBFRAME and BFLC ontologies, enabling users to create entities based on the structure and relationships between properties and classes as defined by the Library of Congress. With the new lookup service, catalogers can query directly external authoritative sources such as the Library of Congress's linked data service (id.loc.gov) and Wikidata. The new editor also provides out-of-the-box templates for works and instances, based on the structures defined by the BIBFRAME interoperability group (BIG) and enables users to create and manage their own templates, with additional functionalities of private and public templates.
Configuration for Enabling BIBFRAME
For users with Cataloging Configuration or Catalog Admin roles, it is now possible to enable (default disabled) support for BIBFRAME works and instances with Alma by using a configuration page rather than needing to open a ticket with the support team.
This setup enables the Works search, the BIBFRAME editor link, and templates links within the Resources menu and the metadata configuration for these formats.
For more information, see Enabling BIBFRAME in Your Institution.
New Merge Option for SBN Authority Contribution and Alignment
Previously, merge rules were not available for SBN authority alignment or as part of SBN contributions. It is now possible to apply merge logic during both SBN authority alignment and Bibliographic/Authority contributions. Customers can select and apply merge rules in these processes to improve data consistency, reduce duplication, and enhance automation within SBN workflows.
For more information, see Integrating the SBN Italian Union Catalogue.
New Search Indexes for Physical Items
New search indexes were added to physical items:
- Physical item: Has Order = yes/no: allows searching for items with/without orders. The index accounts for both orders at the item and the holdings level, similar to the Order link in the items search results.
- Physical item: Received = yes/no: allows searching for items that were received or not received, similar to the receiving filter in the items list. Items are considered received if they have a receiving date of today or earlier.
These new search options make it easier to find items; for example, items with orders that have not yet been received.
For more information, see Physical Items Search Indexes.
Enhanced MARC Bibliographic Index Infrastructure
Idea Exchange URM-253352To enable a seamless setup for institution-specific bibliographic search indexes, customers now have the ability to define custom indexes for their institution based on Bibliographic data. This new infrastructure provides the flexibility for each customer to create their own search indexes tailored to their Bibliographic data.
For more information, see Configuring Search.
Sorting Option for Alma SRU External Search Resources
We have introduced a new sorting capability for Alma SRU-based external search resources only. Users can sort results in the Metadata Editor by Rank, Title (default), Creator, and Publication Date.
For more information, see Configuring External Search Resources.
New Controlled Vocabulary List for Language Codes
A new, merged controlled vocabulary list has been created by combining language codes from the MARC21 standard and the ISO 639-3 list. This enhanced list includes an expanded range of languages, addressing gaps that previously existed when cataloging the MARC 041 $a field.
For more information, see Combined Language List.
Introducing the Alma AI Assistant for Acquisitions Funds and Ledgers – Preview Mode (Beta)
Artificial Intelligence To improve day-to-day efficiency, the Alma AI Assistant enhances the user experience when interacting with Alma through a chat-based interface. Instead of navigating multiple screens and workflows, staff users can ask questions naturally and receive clear, relevant responses directly within Alma.
The first focus area for the Alma AI Assistant is Acquisitions - Funds and Ledgers. Staff users with the Fund/Ledger Manager role (from the institution level) can ask questions about their institution’s funds and ledgers and receive immediate, natural-language responses.
Since the Alma AI Assistant was first announced on the Alma roadmap, it has generated significant interest across the community. As part of the November 2025 release, we conducted an Early Access Program with 15 participating institutions. Their hands-on usage and feedback have been invaluable in shaping the next steps of this initiative.
Given the exploratory and evolving nature of this feature, we want to broaden the feedback loop even further. Therefore, as part of the February 2026 release, we are introducing Alma AI Assistant in Preview Mode (beta) across all Alma environments. Administrators can choose to activate the feature at their discretion.
Preview Mode (beta) - What to Expect
The Preview Mode (beta) is an early iteration designed to give libraries the opportunity to explore the feature, understand its potential, and actively contribute feedback that will guide future development. Additional enhancements, including the ability to perform actions as part of the Alma AI Assistant flow are planned for upcoming releases.
Libraries are encouraged to try the Alma AI Assistant in their Sandbox or Production environments to gain an initial sense of its capabilities and limitations.
Feedback is critical for this phase. You can share your input directly within the Alma AI Assistant using the thumbs up/thumbs down
options on each response, or by contacting us directly at tamar.fuches@clarivate.com.
For more information on enabling the feature, how it works, and our planned enhancements, refer to the Alma AI Assistant – Acquisitions Funds and Ledgers documentation. Also see Artificial Intelligence in Alma.
New Collection Development Manager Role
Rialto now has a dedicated Collection Development Manager role. This role centralizes collection development workflows, replacing the previous model in which multiple roles could use these workflows.
Users assigned the Collection Development Manager role are now the only ones who can:
- Access the Workflows menu under Collection Development
- Create, edit, and delete collection development projects
- Generate and manage recommendations for retention and deselection projects
Repository Administrator and Rialto Administrator roles continue to have access to collection development configuration settings, but they no longer have direct access to the workflows themselves. Collection Development Managers do not have access to configuration settings.
This change clarifies responsibilities and reduces confusion about which users can view, configure, and run collection development workflows.
On Production (not Sandbox), users who created collection development workflow projects prior to the February release will be automatically assigned the Collection Development Manager role to maintain access to existing workflows.
Export Comparison Reports for Collection Development Projects
Rialto now enables Collection Development Managers to export comprehensive comparison reports for retention and deselection projects. Reports can be generated using the Export Extended Report option in the three-dot menu next to a project name.
The export produces an Excel file containing detailed information on all active recommendations from the project, along with comparable data for all matching titles from the selected comparison institutions.
Once a report is generated, a notification appears in the top-right corner of the interface to let the user know it is ready. The report can then be downloaded using the Download Extended Report option in the same three-dot menu. This action is only visible after an extended report has been created. All generated reports can also be viewed or downloaded from the History tab in Admin > Manage Jobs and Sets > Monitor Jobs.
This feature delivers a rich, consolidated view of project recommendations, bringing all relevant data together to support confident retention and deselection decisions. For details, see Creating and Downloading an Extended Report.
Link Resolver Improvement for Video Records in Network Environments
Collaborative Networks URM-248355We have enhanced the link resolver’s search mechanism for video records in network environments. It now accurately identifies video records and distinguishes them from book records, reducing false matches and preventing book links from appearing when patrons search for videos.
For more information, see Alma Link Resolver Workflow.
Complete Record of All Changes in History for Electronic Resources
Idea Exchange CERV Enhancement (ID#36487) URM-319130The e-resources History tab now records changes made by the CZ synchronization, as well as local changes made by system job operators.
Updates from the CZ will appear with "operator" = "system", as do other system job changes.
This development also includes the recording of changes to the general notes and the additional PO lines, which were not previously saved in the history.
For more information, see Managing Electronic Resources.
Autoholdings for Oxford University Press
Idea Exchange URM-252900Libraries can now automate the management of licensed OUP content by using autoholdings.
Once the integration is set up, Alma automatically retrieves a standardized KBART file containing monographs and serial holdings information from the provider’s platform and updates the corresponding collections. This integration removes the need for manual updates, reducing staff workload, saving significant time and enhancing accuracy.
For more information, see Upload Electronic Holdings from Oxford University Press.
Holdings Retention by MARC Fields
Institutions can now define holdings with specific metadata as "committed to retain", thus protecting them from deletion, even if the holdings do not have items. Retention blocks manual and batch deletion.
Definition rules are defined on the Holdings Records Retention definition page at Configuration > Resources > Collection Retention > Holdings Records Retention Definition.
The retention indication on the holdings level is also available in analytics in the following fields:
- Holdings Committed to Retain (Physical Items SA)
- Has Holdings Committed to Retain (Titles SA)
- Has P-Inventory Committed to Retain (Titles SA — indicates whether the title has any items/holdings that are committed to retain)
Retention from holdings is not passed on to the items, i.e., items do not inherit the holdings' retention status. To protect items from deletion, you must define the item itself as committed to be retained in the item editor.
For more information, see Working with Holdings Records, Physical Items and Titles.
Support for German XRechnung Standard when Creating Invoice from XML
Users can now create invoices in Alma from XML file, of the German e-invoice standard XRechnung.
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For more information, see Creating Invoices.
Additional Options for EDI Configuration
Two additional fields were added to the input job parameters at Vendor > EDI Information > Input Job Parameters.
- Default VAT — Appears when Use VAT Code is set to true. The VAT default will be used (and set for the invoice) when there is no value in the input file for VAT code, or when there is a value which does not match the VAT Codes table. Note that Default VAT only applies to the invoice level. Even if the VAT In Invoice Line Level field is set to true, the default VAT is ignored.
- Internal copy — When true, the created invoice for this vendor will have the Internal copy field checked (meaning it will not be sent to ERP).
The new fields will not impact the current setup and will have null/false values by default.
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Both these fields apply to invoice creation from EDI, XML and Excel.
For more information, see Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
More "Interested In" Letter Fields can be Customized
Idea Exchange URM-208307The Interested In letter is sent in different scenarios (upon receipt of the item, upon activation of the resource and upon cancellation of the PO line). Previously, the subject and other message labels were the same in all these cases. Now, the labels can be customized for each of the following use cases, enabling users to write a different subject line and message body depending on the trigger event.
The three main use cases that now have unique customization fields are:
- Receiving
- subject_received
- letter_name_received
- details_received
- details_item_arrival_time
- Activation
- subject_activated
- letter_name_activated
- details_activated
- Cancellation
- subject_cancelled
- letter_name_cancelled
- details_cancelled
These fields can be customized from the Labels table when editing the letter (Configuration > General > Letters Configuration > Interested In Letter > Labels).
For more information, see Configuring Alma Letters.
PO Line Cancellation: Enable Deletion of Related Inventory Even if Linked to CZ
Idea Exchange URM-319332Until now, when cancelling PO line, the portfolio would only be deleted if it was a standalone local portfolio and inactive. A new customer parameter (delete_linked_portfolio_upon_pol_cancellation) was added. When set to true, inactive portfolios that are linked to Community Zone or that are part of an electronic collection will now also be deleted, in addition to the local portfolio.
The parameter is set to false by default. It can be accessed from Configuration > Acquisitions > Other settings.
For more information, see Closing, Cancelling, Reopening and Relinking PO Lines.
Rialto Status in PO Line General Information
When a PO line was created as part of the Rialto workflow, the Rialto status is now shown in the PO line General Information section.
For more information, see Manually Creating a PO Line.
Option to Place Requests on Title and Item Level from PO Line
Idea Exchange URM-207490Users can now place requests from the PO line on the title and item level:
Title level — Using the Request Title action..png?revision=1)
Item level — In the Ordered Items and in the Items in Claim sections, using the Request Item action.
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The actions are displayed for physical PO lines. Users will see the available request types according to their user privilege, just as if the request were placed from a list of items or a repository search.
For more information, see Manually Creating a PO Line.
Link to Holdings Record from PO Line Right Pane
The PO line title in the right pane now links to the institution record in a sliding panel.
Link to sliding panel
Additionally, the Location column in the following tables will now link to the Holdings record:
- Ordered Items
- Holdings for Ordered Items
- Items in Claim
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For more information, see Manually Creating a PO Line.
New API for Creation of Allocation and Transfer Fund Transactions
Users can now use POST in the fund transactions API as follows:
POST /almaws/v1/acq/funds/{fund_id}/transactions
The supported transactions that can be created are:
- Allocation
- Transfer
For more information, see the Developer Network.
Additional COUNTER Report Attributes for SUSHI R5/R5.1. Harvesting
Idea Exchange URM-253611Users can now select additional attributes for SUSHI harvesting COUNTER R5/R5.1 reports: DR, IR, PR and TR. This enables the Access type and other attributes to be included in the harvested reports, enhancing the functionality for title (and other) reports.
For the institution-level defaults, the attributes can be selected from Configuration > Acquisitions > COUNTER R5 Additional Attributes for SUSHI Harvesting.
Attributes can also be selected for the SUSHI account level.
The report level options are:
- Default — Take the values set in COUNTER R5 Additional Attributes for SUSHI Harvesting
- Explicit yes — Send this attribute, no matter what settings are in COUNTER R5 Additional Attributes for SUSHI Harvesting
- Explicit no — Don't send this attribute, no matter what settings are in COUNTER R5 Additional Attributes for SUSHI Harvesting
For more information, see Managing COUNTER - Compliant Usage Data.
Relative Date Search Operators for Order Lines Search
When searching order lines, users can search by relative dates. This is available for:
- Creation date
- Is Within the Last (days)
- Is Older Than (days)
- Sent date
- Is Within the Last (days)
- Is Older Than (days)
- Renewal date
- Is Within the Last (days)
- Is Older Than (days)
- Is Within the Next (days)
For more information, see Searching for PO Lines and Using Facets to Refine Results.
New Order Import Profile: Option to Use Call Number for Holdings Matching
The New Order Import profile looks for the holding on which the item should be created. This match is based on the library and location.
Institutions can now configure this match to also consider the call number. This can be achieved by setting the eod_match_holdings_by_call_number customer parameter
(Configuration > Acquisitions > Other Settings) to True. When the call number is different from that of an existing holding for the matched bibliographic record, a new holding is created.
If more than one matched holding is found, a new holding is created, as the system cannot determine which one to use. This is the existing behavior when multiple matches are found based on library and location.
- This new feature assumes a mapping to 852h.
- When the parameter is set to true, and the call number has an empty value, the behavior is as follows:
- When there is one existing holding in the matched bib, the item is created for this holding.
- When there is more than one existing holding in the matched bib, a new holding is created.
For more information, see Managing Import Profiles and Other Settings.
Support Services for Consortia Central Office
URM-215332 URM-226822 URM-317340It is now possible for the Network Zone operator, from the Central Configuration Dashboard, to perform a defined set of maintenance and troubleshooting tasks on behalf of its member institutions. These include support services and utilities that were previously handled only by Ex Libris support, enabling faster problem resolution and proactive system management at the consortial level.
This enhancement empowers the Central Office to support its members more effectively by performing direct maintenance and troubleshooting actions. It strengthens the Central Office’s role as a service provider, improves response times for member institutions, and reduces reliance on external support for common issues.
This new feature is only relevant to Consortia with a Network Zone setup. The Network Zone operator must have the Support Services role in order to access and use these tools.
For more information, see Support Services.
New Additions to the Central Configuration Dashboard
URM-319235 URM-319507 URM-319423The following information was added to the new Central Configuration Dashboard:
- Activate Linked Open Data Formats page to expand the exposure of Linked Open Data across the network.
- Homepage Notifications for management and distribution.
- Usage Calculation mapping table in a brand new Collection Development section to offer a central management and distribution across members without the need to opt-in locally in the Data Sharing profile.
- Partner Sectors, Partner Organization Type and Partner Account Allowances code tables for central management of Resource Sharing and Rapido.
These additions enable the central office to work more efficiently, reducing time spent applying central policies.
Shared Blocks Across the Fulfillment Network for Network Zone Managed Users
Idea Exchange URM-314620Previously, in a Network where users are managed at the Network Zone level, patron blocks could only be shared from the Network Zone to the institutions where the patron had local accounts. It is now possible to share blocks from any institution with any other institution where the patron has an active account.
This enables patron blocking more easily and efficiently across the entire network where users are managed in the Network Zone.
For more information, see Configuring User Blocks and Managing Users.
Combination of Electronic Resources Activated at Network Zone and Institution Zone for Online Services Order
Idea Exchange URM-248932It is now possible for the Member Administrator to select from a combined list of electronic resources activated at Network Zone and Institution Zone levels in the Online Services Order configuration. At the Network Zone level, the operator (from the dashboard) can still update the order for these services for the Network (only local resources from the network) and for the Members (combined list of local and network resources).
This enhancement improves efficiency by allowing the combination of Network and Institution Zone electronic resources for improved services.
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This new feature is only relevant to Consortia with a Network Zone setup.
For more information, see ViewIt.
Support for Italian in Online Help
Support for Italian was added to the online help.
When working in the Italian user interface and accessing the online help, it now opens automatically in Italian.
For more information, see Alma User Interface.
Enhanced Performance for Searching Combo Boxes in New UX
Enhanced functionality was added to support searching combo boxes with long lists of options (above 200) in the Alma new UX, for example, in the Advanced Search. Previously, when opening a combo box list with many options, opening the list caused performance issues. Now, as you scroll down, more options are auto-loaded. The user can now scroll to view all the results, and the general performance was improved without changing the current functionality of searching the combo box.
User ID Appended to System for Manual Jobs
CERV Enhancement (ID#36485)URM-319756When running manual jobs, the user ID can now be appended to "System" in Alma entities updated by the job. For example, when the user John_Branson runs a manual job, instead of "System" appearing in the Physical Item Editor Modified-By field, Alma now displays "John_Branson (System)".
This requires the detailed_creator_and_modifier_for_job_changes parameter (Configuration > General > General Configuration > Other Settings) to be set to true (false by default). Note that enabling this parameter causes a change in the data from this point on, and this data change cannot be modified retroactively. Disabling this parameter again causes a change in the data from that point onwards, and again cannot be modified retroactively.
This feature only applies to:
- Manual jobs (non-scheduled) when the Run Now button is used
- Scheduled jobs when the Run button is used
This field is commonly used in analytics reports (for example, Modified by in the Physical Items Subject Area). Upon enabling the new customer parameter, the data will change accordingly from this point forward, and no retrospective data correction is performed. The same applies when this parameter is disabled.
For more information, see Manual Jobs and Configuring Other Settings.
New Link to Known Issues Portal from Alma Help Menu
A new link to the Known Issues Portal was added to Alma’s Help menu. This link opens the Known Issues page in a new browser tab. This update improves access to the Known Issues Platform, helping users stay informed about current issues and reducing the need to open support cases for existing known issues.
For more information, see Alma User Interface.
Support for Actions Configuration in Manage Sets List
You can now customize the display and order of the actions for the Manage Sets list.
For more information, see New Layout.
Enhanced Display and Behavior for Related Sets, Filter and Combine Badges and Set ID Label in Manage Sets List
The Related Sets description in the Related Sets section in the Manage Sets interface was updated to be more meaningful and improve clarity and consistency as follows:
- New badges were introduced to indicate the type of relationship:
- Used for combined sets
- Combined set
- Used for filtered sets
- Filtered Set
New Badges
- The Related Sets section in the Manage Sets page was enhanced to be more informative and improve clarity and consistency:
- Set IDs are now displayed at the end of each set name.
Set ID in Related Sets - The related sets display logic has been updated to better handle scenarios where sets are deleted or updated, ensuring an accurate representation of relationships.
Filtered sets whose "parent" was deleted are now indicated as such.
Deleted Parent in Related Sets - Additional relations are now included, showing related set details for actions like Create Titles Set and Itemize.
Itemized and Created Title Sets in Related Sets
- Set IDs are now displayed at the end of each set name.
- Updates/changes to sets (e.g., name change, adding members, etc.) that are part of a relation, no longer affect the display of the badges (for filter or combine operations) or the related set information in the Related Sets section.
- This change will not affect existing sets and existing sets relations and will take effect from this point onwards.
Additionally, the Manage Sets list now includes the Set ID information displayed in the first column of set information in the list, in addition to its current display in the right panel.
For more information, see Managing Search Queries and Sets.
Support for Plain Text Email
Idea Exchange URM-316414Alma now provides an option to include plain text on top of the HTML version. This provides patrons with plain-text email clients the ability to view emails from Alma.
This feature can be enabled by setting the include_plain_text_in_emails parameter to true (Configuration > General > Other Settings).
For more information, see Configuring Other Settings.
User-Controlled Default Collapse State for Success Fly-In Messages
The success fly-in messages checkbox was updated to enable users to set the default display state (collapsed or expanded) for success messages. Prior to this change, in pages with the new user interface, the default selection was for that specific message. Now, when selected, all similar message types on the same page follow the chosen default behavior. This change aligns the behavior with pages that do not have the new interface, and enables users to reduce visual clutter by collapsing success messages on the same page by default.
For more information, see Alma User Interface.
Search Users by Role and Scope
It is now possible to search for user records in the Advanced Search by role and scope, for example, to search for users with a circulation desk operator role in the scope of the Main Library. This new option enhances search options and enables the creation of user sets based on their roles and scopes.
For more information, see Searching in Alma.
Secondary Search for Titles/Holdings Search Results and PO Lines
When searching for titles, holdings or PO lines in Alma, it is now possible to perform a secondary search within the search results. This is also available when viewing logical set content, allowing for easy location of specific set members. This is especially useful for users who want to quickly or temporarily refine their search query, without having to update an advanced search with additional search criteria.
For pages with a Search Query, the secondary search is added to the search query.
After performing a secondary search, it is possible to save the refined results as a logical set.
The secondary search is also available when viewing the content of a logical set of any of these search types.
For more information, see Secondary Search.
New Encryption for User ID Encryption Field in Fulfillment Subject Area
The User ID Encryption field in the Fulfillment Subject Area in Analytics is used to obtain counts by user ID after the anonymization job is run, which deletes the Primary ID. This field is now calculated using a new encryption method.
Existing reports using a specific value as a filter may need to be reviewed and updated to ensure they continue to function as expected.
For more information, see Analytics Fulfillment Subject Area.
Flexible Definition of Local Parameters Being Sent to Analytics
Users can now decide which parts of a MARC field (indicators and subfields) are sent to Analytics through local parameters. This is possible for both bibliographic and holdings information. It provides more control over data granularity in reports, enabling a more accurate and focused analysis.
For more information, see Holding Details and Administrative Bibliographic Details.
Electronic Resource Network Data Accessible in a Single Location in Analytics
All electronic resource Network fields are now available in a single location within the Portfolio Details for Consortia Members folder in the E-Inventory Subject Area. Users can easily access all Network-related information in a single place, providing a clear and organized view.
For more information, see Analytics When Using a Network Zone and Portfolio Details for Consortia Members.
Electronic Collection Pending Deletion Reason and Alternative Collections CZ ID Fields Now Available in Analytics
Two new fields, Electronic Collection Pending Deletion Reason and Alternative Collections CZ ID, are now available in the E-Inventory Subject Area, specifically in the Electronic Collection and Portfolio Details for Consortia Members > Electronic Collection folders. Additional information about collections pending deletion in the Community is now available in analytics, making it accessible even after the Pending Deletion collection has been deleted in Alma.
For more information, see Electronic Collection and Portfolio Details for Consortia Members (Electronic Collection).
Set "No List Expected" in Bulk Using Course Bulk Update Task
Idea Exchange URM-240421The Course Bulk Update job (Admin > Run a Job > Courses > Course Bulk Update) now supports the No list expected attribute. Staff can select the No list expected checkbox in the job and choose either Add No list expected or Remove No list expected for all courses in the selected set, which enables efficient large-scale updates.
A new No list expected facet is also available on the Fulfillment > Courses page. It enables staff to filter courses based on whether the No list expected attribute is selected (Yes) or not selected (No). This enhancement improves course management by enabling institutions to quickly identify and organize courses that are intentionally not expected to have lists.
Related Records from Recommendation Summaries
January 2026 Resource Management URM-316541
Rialto now displays a Related Records link in the Summary section when viewing a retention or deselection recommendation that has associated bibliographic records. The link indicates the number of related records in parentheses.
Selecting Related Records opens a sliding panel with a list of all bibliographic records associated with the recommendation’s MMS ID.
This enhancement makes it easy to find connected records when examining recommendations and helps users understand the broader bibliographic landscape of a title.
Expanded Details in Item-Level Compare To Sections
January 2026 Resource Management URM-253024
Item-level Compare To sections for both retention and deselection recommendations now include detailed data for other institutions' resources. Users can view this data by selecting the View full list and additional information link in the Compare To sections.
Selecting View full list and additional information opens a detailed sliding panel that displays various data related to all matching holdings in comparison institutions, such as:
- MMS IDs
- Titles
- Authors
- Publication date
- Publisher name
- ISBNs
- Other system numbers
The panel presents one row per matching MMS ID per institution. For example, if a single institution holds two matching MMS IDs, the panel lists two rows—one for each match. Additionally, if multiple identifiers exist, the sliding panel displays all of them in the same field.
Some data points are hidden by default; use the panel’s configuration button to add additional columns to the sliding panel.
This update increases transparency across comparison institutions and supports more confident decision-making when assessing items for retention and deselection.
Create Collection Development Projects from a File
January 2026 Resource Management URM-314774
Rialto now enables users to create retention and deselection projects by uploading a file that contains a predefined list of items. Users can upload a tab-delimited text file or an Excel file with item IDs to serve as the project’s data source from which Rialto can generate recommendations. The uploaded file must be smaller than 10 MB and include a column named Item ID in the header row.
This capability is ideal for libraries that manage curated title lists outside of Rialto—for example, lists exported from previous projects, inventory analyses, or collaborative collection studies.
When creating a new project, a new Upload Project From File option is available on the Add New Project window (Collection Development > Workflows > Retention or Deselection). When selected, the window updates to include a field for uploading a file.
This enhancement gives libraries greater flexibility when creating collection development projects. Direct file uploads also reduce manual setup time and improve accuracy when analyzing preselected title lists. For more information, see Creating a Deselection Project from a File and Creating a Retention Project from a File.
Create Collection Development Projects from an Alma Set
January 2026 Resource Management URM-306178
In addition to creating a project from a file, users can now also create new projects directly from existing Alma physical item sets. This enhancement applies to both retention and deselection projects.
When creating a new project, a Create Project from Set option is now available on the Add New Project window (Collection Development > Workflows > Deselection or Retention). Once selected, users can choose any Alma set containing physical items from the Select Physical Items Set dropdown. When generating recommendations for a project created this way, Rialto evaluates only the items included in the selected Alma set.
This enhancement streamlines project setup and strengthens the connection between Alma’s inventory management and Rialto’s collection development workflows. For more information, see Creating a Deselection Project from a Set and Creating a Retention Project from a Set.
Define Usage Scope in Retention Projects
January 2026 Resource Management URM-254904
Rialto now enables users to include usage criteria when defining the scope of retention projects. Previously, usage filters were available only for deselection projects.
A new Suggest when total usage per title is more than field has been added to the Scope section of the retention Criteria form. This field includes two dropdowns:
- A usage count dropdown (1–10) that specifies the minimum number of uses per title.
- A timeframe dropdown (1–10 years) that defines the period during which usage is calculated.
The field is optional and is blank by default.
This enhancement helps libraries preserve high-value materials by basing retention decisions on measurable usage patterns.
Include Digitization Requests in Usage Calculations
January 2026 Resource Management URM-306180
Rialto now enables institutions to account for digitization requests when calculating item usage in retention and deselection projects.
A new configuration option, DIGITIZATION_REQUESTS, is now available in the table found in Configuration > Collection Development > Workflows > Usage Calculation. When enabled, Rialto includes digitization requests in the total usage count used for generating project recommendations.
Digitization requests represent instances where users or staff request the creation of a digital copy of a physical item.
By incorporating digitization requests into the overall usage calculation, libraries gain a more accurate understanding of how their collections are accessed and valued. This helps institutions make better-informed decisions when identifying titles for retention or deselection.
Search Within Recommendations
January 2026 Resource Management URM-313438
Users can now search within the recommendations list in both retention and deselection projects. A new search bar has been added to the View Recommendations page, next to the existing sort control. You can search by several indexed fields, including:
- Keywords
- Creator
- Edition
- MMS ID
- Publisher
- Title
- Title Local Labels
Any selected facets remain applied when running a search. If no titles match the entered keywords, the page displays a message indicating that no results were found.
This improvement makes it easier to locate specific titles among large recommendation sets.
Additional Enhancements
- January 2026 Fulfillment and Resource Sharing URM-315436
Alma now records which user uploaded a file to a citation. When a file is uploaded, the system stores either the uploader username or, if the file was added by a job, the job ID.In Alma, this information is visible in the File Upload component under the label Uploaded by. This information will be added to analytics in a future release
Information on who uploaded a file