Alma & Primo Guide

Alma Inventory Model

Alma Searching Module

 

Alma Inventory Model

Most legacy ILS systems have a single data structure for handling and storing physical and electronic resources. Electronic resources are handled as physical items because those legacy systems are not equipped to handle them any other way. In Alma, electronic resources have a different database structure than physical resources.

Alma inventory components are comprised of three levels:

  • Intellectual Entity (IE) - usually the bibliographic record
  • Middle Level - different names depending on the format
  • Item - different names depending on the format

The IE is almost always the bibliographic record. It is essentially the MMSID and corresponding bibliographic record. The IE provides a pointer to the metadata (MMS) record at the inventory level. Within Alma, the IE is mostly transparent and is not discoverable on its own, but allows Alma to point to a combination of community and institutional records from the local inventory.

The middle level has varied names depending on the material and resource type:

  • For physical resources, the middle level contains the holdings information such as the Main library or Law library holdings.
  • For electronic resources, the middle level contains the electronic service information such as full text or selected full text.
  • For digital resources (we haven't subscribed to this feature), the middle level contains the representation information such as master copy or derivative copy.

Finally, the item is the inventory level for fulfillment and usage. It contains the physical item, the electronic portfolio, or the digital file.

 

Alma Searching Module

When searching in Alma, it's important to understand Alma inventory model and know what kinds of records to find:

  • To find bibliographic records, search for Titles, either All Titles, Physical Titles, or Electronic Titles
  • To find individual item records, search for Physical Items or for Electronic Portfolios, or possibly Electronic Collections.

However, holdings records can't be searchable directly, but they can be found from either the related bib or item records.

Electronic Collections (e.g., everything we subscribe to Springer) can also directly be searchable. Choose Electronic Collection, choose the Interface name such as Springer Link, to see all of the electronic items that we have through Springer.

Alma LibGuide from Ex Libris

Organized by functional areas, the Alma LibGuide is a new way to access training, documentation, and other resources to help you get the most out of Alma.

Ex Libris Customer Knowledge Center

The Knowledge Center provides the latest information on all Ex Libris products, including documentation, knowledge articles, training, and more.

Library Technical Services Procedures from University of Rhode Island

A well documented list of policies, procedures and workflows on a variety of areas of technical services.

Alma LibGuide from Ex Libris

Organized by functional areas, the Alma LibGuide is a new way to access training, documentation, and other resources to help you get the most out of Alma.

Training from Ex Libris Knowledge Center

All of the Alma training videos available from the Ex Libris Knowledge Center.

Alma/Primo LibGuide from SUNY Libraries Consortium

Alma and Primo training from SUNY Libraries Consortium.

Alma/Primo LibGuide from CSU Los Angeles

Alma and Primo training from CSU Los Angeles.

Ex Libris Ltd - YouTube

Ex Libris YouTube Channel.

Ask the Alma Expert

A live Q&A session on various Alma topics. You can stay updated on future sessions, and view past recorded sessions.

Serials Receiving

The instruction on serials receiving for the library staff (Jun 19th 2020).

The Mending Work Order Workflow

The instruction tells you how to handle mending work order step by step (Sept 2nd 2020).

Allocate funds

Instructions for allocating funds in Alma (Dec 11th 2020).

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