• Product: Alma

In the Alma Community Zone, collections can be created even before a title list is available, serving as placeholder collections.

These placeholder collections do not include portfolios. Instead, they contain a limited set of metadata indicating when the title list is expected to be delivered to Ex Libris, with an additional one-month buffer. The collection will be marked with a designated icon and include a comment noting the expected release date (see below image).

This functionality will be rolled out gradually, starting with Walter De Gruyter and Adam Matthew collections for which future title lists include expected title lists availability (not all new collections from these providers have expected metadata availability dates).

Until the title lists are received, we are unable to confirm which titles will be associated with these collections. Once the title lists arrive, the collections will be fully populated and will support all standard collection functionality, including activation, portfolios, and CDI.

Placeholder collections may be created as either Aggregator Package or Selective Package types and will include the following information:

1. Collection name
2. Interface name
3. Creation date, indicating when the placeholder collection was created
4. Modification date, indicating when the placeholder collection was last updated
5. Collection ID
6. MMS ID
7. Provider Collection ID, if supplied by the provider
8. Provider Collection Name, if supplied by the provider

Once a collection becomes live and is populated with a title list, it will be announced in the Alma CKB Release Notes.

• Article last edited: 01-Apr-2026