Alma Roadmap – Completed – 2025 H1

• A new “side by side” presentation reflects general information regarding the title and its inventory.
• A new table view for easy scanning of the search results.
• Actionable sections within the right panel enables users to edit specific information associated with the titles' inventory without leaving the search results.

• Reduced number of steps needed for common actions

• MARC simple view upfront

• New Item section

• Actionable inventory information

Available for opt-in by all users.

Alma allows libraries to combine innovative AI solutions along with expert cataloging knowledge to easily and efficiently create and enrich bibliographic data.

• Creating MARC 21 English records using information such as the title and/or images of the resource (e.g. back cover, title page, colophon).

• Enriching existing MARC 21 English records for books.

• Giving catalogers an AI assistant that can suggest relevant metadata they can use, such as LC subjects, summary notes, etc.

• Expanding the AI generated metadata suggestions from the library's templates

• Configurable normalization of the AI generated metadata suggestions

Reduce the time and effort a cataloger spends on creating or enriching each bibliographic record.

Libraries and librarians have more control over what metadata requests to set the AI.

• Admin is able to disable certain metadata requests at the institution level, reducing the likelihood of certain metadata being generated by the AI

• Admin can define whether to send the AI a summary request, and if so - whether to request a copied and/or generated summary

• Cataloger is able to select what metadata to request the AI to generate (e.g. only request a table of contents enrichment when uploading an image of the table of contents)

Enhance the library's and the librarian's control over the requested metadata types to generate, improving generated metadata quality and usefulness for the library.

When working in the Metadata Editor, catalogers are able to open the authority headings lookup using a menu action (in addition to the F3 keyboard shortcut).

• Metadata Editor has a menu action in the "Editing Actions" menu that opens the authority headings lookup, similar to the F3 keyboard shortcut.

• Catalogers are able to select whether to use the keyboard or menu for linking bibliographic headings to authority records.

Catalogers are able to efficiently work on a wider selection of devices, including ones (such as tablets) that don't have function keys.

Linking and preferred term correction handle cases where the bibliographic heading is linked to an authority via a cross-reference, but the preferred and non-preferred terms are in different fields (for example, the preferred term is in authority field 130, and cross-reference in authority is in 410).

• PTC corrects the heading to the preferred term when the preferred and non-preferred terms are in different fields.

• PTC updates the field number of the bibliographic heading in the bibliographic record to match the linked authority record's preferred term.

• The library is able to review these changes in the Authority Control Task List.

Better automated authority updates, keeping the library's catalog up to date, and reducing the need for manual corrections.

By working with normalization rules, the institution is able to manipulate its metadata using XSL, enabling complex transformations with a powerful programming language.

• When creating new normalization rules, the option to use XSL is available.

• By utilizing XSL normalization rules, one can apply complex or advanced logic for metadata normalization and manipulation.

• A new user privilege gives the institution's administrator control over who is granted access to this new functionality.

Using a programming language to manipulate metadata records enables the implementation of complex logic.

Based on the Alma Authority Focus Group (AAFG) feedback, libraries are able to select whether to force subfields to be considered when linking to bibliographic headings.

Bibliographic record fields only link to authority headings if the matching content is in the same subfields.

The linking accurately reflects not only matching content but also matching cataloged subfields.

The cataloger is able to add URIs of linked authorities to records as part of the cataloging process in the metadata editor and as part of the linking and PTC jobs.

• Expanding the linked data enrichment process to the cataloging workflow from existing authorities.

• Support adding URIs permanently to the records.

• The process is configurable to match each institution's needs.

The cataloger enjoys a seamless workflow for adding URIs to relevant subfields automatically, creating a basis for continuous work based on the authorities' IDs.

Searching for Linked Open Data Work records and view related information in Alma's catalog.

• It is possible to search for Linked Open Data Work records by the record's metadata.

• The search displays all Instance records linked to the Work record.

The cataloger has a simpler and quicker process for identifying Work records and the Instances linked to them.

Local authorities can be linked to other authorities using VIAF and gain linked data capabilities.

• Adding configurations extract global IDs to map local authorities to VIAF clusters.

• Enhancing linked data functionalities for local authorities, such as displaying info cards and contributor pages and enabling URI enrichment.

Librarians can extract global IDs from local authorities and map to VIAF and experience linked data enhancements.

Based on work and feedback from the Alma Authority Focus Group (AAFG), Alma can control the name portion of the name/title combination so that changes to the authorized form in the name authority record are reflected in the bibliographic heading.

• When a name/title bibliographic heading does not match an authority record, but there is a matching name authority, the heading is partially linked to it.

• When the authorized form of a name changes, the change will be reflected in partially-linked name/title headings.

Automated name authority updates for headings that include both name and title.

When working in the MD Editor catalogers are able to open a dialog box and select a special character to enter into the record.

• The Metadata Editor has a dialog box containing special characters, where the operator can select the special character.

• Selecting the special character inserts it where the cursor indicator is when the dialog box was opened.

• The dialog box can be opened using a menu option or a keyboard shortcut.

Cataloging records with special characters is more convenient and efficient.

A new validation process based on the EDTF standard is available for MARC date/time fields.

• A new validation process based on the EDTF standard is available.

• Predefined fields are eligible for applying the new EDTF validation.

• The new validation process can be applied either when saving records or during the matching process.

Catalogers who need the EDTF standard applied to specific date/time fields can now utilize the new validation process for their institution's data.

Enhance the Work Search functionalities according to the user's needs.

• Adding additional facets and quick links such as the subclass of the work.

• Adding additional facets according to early access feedback.

The user can enjoy the advantages of cataloging in BIBFRAME and searching within the additional hierarchical level the ontology provides while having a simpler and quicker process for identifying Work records and the Instances linked to them and performing relevant actions.

The Physical Holdings Staff Search was updated with various improvements for better usability, performance, productivity, and overall user experience.

• Ability to configure actions order according to user's preferences.
• Ability to configure sections order according to user's preferences.
• Ability to configure the information visible in search results.
• More information and actions available in items section.

The user can now quickly find holdings and perform actions as needed.

Upload Electronic Holdings from SAGE replaces the manual, multi-step workflow for managing SAGE holdings. 

• Customer-specific electronic holdings for SAGE content are activated automatically.
• The integration runs on a fixed schedule.

Reduces manual work involved in activating and maintaining the library holdings of SAGE electronic resources.

It is now possible to define separately different behaviors for new and deleted Community Zone portfolios.

• Upon activation of a Community Zone service, It is now possible to select whether to Delete portfolios removed from service automatically, separately from the Activate new portfolios associated with service automatically definition.
• This definition is considered during the Community Zone synchronization job.

Better flexibility in the definition of Community Zone updates behavior. This eases the management of electronic collections.

Alma now remembers the user's selected sort routine in the physical items list.

When viewing the items list, the sorting does not default to Library/Location, but to the last sort routine selected by the user.

The user can easily scan the items list in the sort relevant for their needs, without having to reselect it each time.

Overlap Analysis tool now supports comparison using multiple identifiers types.

• It is now possible to select multiple match methods and the order in which they will be used.
• The report includes information on the matched identifier type and its value.

Enhanced overlap analysis features facilitates decision-making in purchasing.

Network members are able to create Display Logic rules with a combination of e-resources managed centrally and locally, coming from the Network Zone and from the local institution.

When configuring a Display logic rule in a consortia member, it is possible to choose Network Zone electronic collections as part of the rule criteria.

Better usability of electronic resources activated at both levels improves the consortia's management of electronic resources.

It is now possible to automatically suppress bibliographic records from PrimoVE, in case they do not have available inventory and do not have relations.

This behavior is optional.

• Titles without available inventory will not appear in PrimoVE search.
• Inactive portfolios are considered "no available inventory".
• If the bibliographic record is part of a relation, it will not be automatically suppressed.
• This is the situation regardless of the “Suppress” status that appears as an eye icon in Alma or the workflow which deleted/deactivated the inventory.

A streamlined process for suppressing bibliographic records when there is no available inventory ensures that patrons are offered with available resources in discovery.

Alma now supports COUNTER 5.1 reports in the various usage workflows.

• It is possible to create vendor SUSHI accounts for R5.1.

• Alma harvests the various report types.

• Relevant information is available in Analytics.

Enables institutions to compare and analyze usage data effectively according to the latest COUNTER data release.

The "Update PO lines information - advanced" job now supports changing PO line types across inventory and continuity.

• It is possible to change PO line types from one time to continuous, from physical to electronic, etc.

• It is possible to define how to handle the existing inventory and whether to create new inventory.

The ability to update existing PO lines across inventory and continuity simplifies PO line management and eliminate the need to delete and recreate them for significant changes.

Changes in bibliographic records can be automatically reflected in the corresponding PO lines.

• PO line descriptive information is updated when the corresponding bibliographic record is updated in any workflow.

• This behavior is optional.

Accurate PO line descriptive information eases the management of PO lines.

New Patron Services User Interface

In this phase of the UX rollout, the new UX is the only usable UX.

Quicker and more effective work at the circulation desk, using a cleaner and improved personalized Patron Services page.

An option to toggle "Missing" status is available even if the item is currently not available.

The option to toggle "Missing" status is available from the items search result and the items list even if the item is currently not available.

Easier and more efficient missing status toggling.

Introducing new relative date search operators for key date-related search indexes, enabling users to perform more dynamic and flexible searches based on time ranges.

New user search relative-date operators:

• • "Is Within the Last (days)"

  • "Is Older Than (days)"

  • "Is Within the Next (days)"

• Users can input a numeric value to define the time range (where 1 represents "today").

• Enables the creation of "moving-wall" Users sets to facilitate ongoing data management.

This enhancement provides greater flexibility in search capabilities, enabling users to efficiently filter and retrieve records based on relative timeframes. The introduction of relative date operators simplifies complex queries and improves workflow efficiency for managing time-based data.

The last activity date is updated whenever a user logs into Primo or Alma, regardless of the login method used.

• Comprehensive Tracking: Updating the last activity date for all login methods, including institutional identity providers, social logins, and Ex Libris Identity Service.

• Broad compatibility: supports LDAP, SAML, CAS, OpenID Connect, Google, Facebook, and email-based logins.

• Improved Reporting: Enables accurate reporting on user activity for better account management.

This enhancement allows libraries to accurately identify active patrons based on recent login activity, facilitating more effective user account management and purging of inactive accounts.

An updated Conformance Report on the newest compliance with WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA, covering the current and new layout.

• A new Conformance Report for WCAG 2.1 based on a third-party leading accessibility company audit.
• Update compliance after enhancements.
• Report on existing exceptions.
• Covers the new layout.

• Transparency regarding accessibility compliance.
• Easier to use by individuals with disabilities.

Users can save multiple combinations of facets under different names on the Manage Sets page. This enhancement simplifies facet management by allowing users to quickly access their preferred facet configurations.

• Save multiple facet combinations with unique names for easy retrieval.
• Access saved facets via the new "Saved" drop-down list.
• Utilize new "Save" and "Save As" buttons for improved facet management.
• Remove saved facets using the new recycle bin icon.
• Set default facets when saving new combinations using the "Set as Default" checkbox.

This feature empowers users with greater flexibility and efficiency in managing facets, reducing the time spent on repetitive filtering tasks. By providing easy access to customized facet configurations, users can streamline their workflows and enhance their overall experience.

Institutions can configure Alma's session timeout duration, allowing greater flexibility for staff who require longer active sessions. Administrators can set institution-wide defaults and enable user-level overrides to suit individual needs.

• Additional session timeout configuration options was introduced (15, 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes. Default remains 60 minutes).

• Institution-wide configuration via a new "Session Timeout" page.

• The option for administrators to allow users to override the institution's default settings makes this option visible for user-level customization under "User Details".

This enhancement provides institutions with greater control over session durations, improving staff efficiency by reducing frequent logins while maintaining security. Institutions can tailor the session timeout to meet operational needs, ensuring a better user experience.

The AI-powered Online Help Knowledge Assistant was embedded directly in Alma, enabling users to access instant, natural-language responses to documentation-related queries without leaving the platform.

• Seamless integration with Alma for quick access to documentation information assistance.

• AI-powered responses to natural language queries, enhancing user efficiency.

• New and easy access points from the Alma UI.

• Opens in a right-side panel similar to "Recent Entities" with an option to pin for continuous use.

This enhancement empowers Alma users with immediate access to relevant documentation, streamlining workflows and improving overall efficiency. The intuitive AI assistant minimizes search time, ensuring users can focus on core tasks with greater ease.

An out-of-the-box Data Visualization focusing on identifying single copies based on various criteria to support deselection ("weeding") at the consortia level. This dashboard is one of several dashboards designed to support collection development.

• Out-of-the-box data visualization project.

• Useful insights to help consortia identify potential physical inventory for retention and space reclamation.

Provides consortia with an overview of the collections held by their members for efficient collection management at the consortia level

The consortia central office has more centralized operational policies in the new Central Configuration Dashboard.

New options and services to the new Central Configuration Dashboard:

• Managing opening hours and distributing calendar information from the Central Configuration Dashboard to the members.

• New notification letter at Network Zone level to inform the relevant administrators of the member institutions when a new distribution is run at the Network Zone level from the Central Configuration Dashboard.

• Management of General Electronic Services configurations from the Central Configuration Dashboard.

• Option for Members to request release of "Imposed" Mode

• Hide configuration links for Code and Mapping tables in the Alma Configuration Menu at Network Zone level

• Redirect Old menu Links to New Central Configuration Dashboard

The central office has more tools to work more efficiently, reducing time spent applying central policies.

Network Members, at their Institution Zone level, can search both Institution Zone titles and Network Zone titles while creating their Alma Collections, and are now able to add Network Zone titles to a collection.

Member institutions can add both Institution Zone titles and Network Zone titles to their Alma Collections.

Members can have access to all their titles (locally and centrally managed) in their collections.