[DCRM-L] Alma

[Moody, Honor M.]

Primo can be configured to search copy specific fields present in both bib and holdings records.  Harvard has documented it’s Primo PNX configuration here<https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/x/AgJjCQ>. Whether your institution chooses to configure them is a separate issue.

For questions on technical aspects of configuration, I would ask on the Primo list<https://el-una.org/about/mailing-lists/primo-email-list/>.

For those institutions using a 590 or other generic field for copy specific data that could potentially map to more specific MARC21 fields, I would encourage folks to think about how they can be mapped during migration.

Harvard uses a $5 to distinguish between libraries in the bibliographic fields, but this isn’t displayed in the public catalog without looking at the source MARC, e.g., the former owners in this record<http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990015592570203941/catalog>.

Alma does any number of things very differently than other systems, so in general I would encourage folks migrating to Alma to assess current workflows in terms of ends, rather than means.

This is also a good time to start cataloging in Connexion, if you aren’t already—I am currently developing local save file workflows that don’t require staff to use the Metadata Editor. FWIW, we are 15 months post-migration (from Aleph), and I consider us just about ready to take the training wheels off.

I would also strongly courage libraries planning a migration to consider basic web browser training as part of any Alma training. You cannot assume that staff will know how to clear their caches, or that they will be familiar with standard cross browser keyboard short cuts (CTRL + F, etc., though to be fair, not all work as expected in Alma).

Best,
Honor

From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> On Behalf Of Jones, Angela
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 11:11 AM
To: DCRM Users' Group <dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] Alma

Hi everyone,

SMU migrated from Voyager to Alma in the summer of 2017. Off the top of my head, here are my two cents about issues that specifically relate to cataloging rare or special collections materials.

First, bound-withs work very differently in Alma than in Voyager. I find the Alma workflow to catalog bound-withs to be more cumbersome, although the record displays and discoverability in both Alma and in Primo seems to work fine.

The second issue concerns local notes. When we migrated, we went from an environment where all the campus libraries shared Voyager, but didn’t share bib records. Our bibs all migrated as separate bibs, but going forward in Alma we have had to share new records. We all had been accustomed to using 590 fields in our specific records for local notes, but in a shared record environment that can get sort of messy. We have looked at using other MARC fields in the holdings record to put in copy specific notes such as donor notes, provenance, etc. But my understanding is that such notes aren’t necessarily searchable in Primo. I would love to find out that I am wrong about that, however!

As I said, that is my two cents. Others may have different perspectives.

Angela



Angela Jones
Head of Technical Services
Underwood Law Library, Dedman School of Law
Southern Methodist University
P.O. Box 750354
Dallas, TX 75275-0354
214-768-1827
arjones at smu.edu<mailto:arjones at smu.edu>

From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu>> On Behalf Of Tedford, Beth
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 9:54 AM
To: DCRM Users' Group <dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>>
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] Alma

I would as well. We will be migrating from Voyager to ALMA next year and would love to hear of others experiences. Thanks.

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:36 AM Carpenter, Jane <jfcarpenter at library.ucla.edu<mailto:jfcarpenter at library.ucla.edu>> wrote:
I’d also be interested in hearing responses to Richard’s query—
Thanks—
Jane Carpenter
Special Collections Cataloger
UCLA Library Special Collections
jfcarpenter at library.ucla.edu<mailto:jfcarpenter at library.ucla.edu>



Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 18, 2019, at 7:22 AM, Noble, Richard <richard_noble at brown.edu<mailto:richard_noble at brown.edu>> wrote:
Could those of you who have experience with Alma in the context of rare materials cataloging please advise me of what to look for in a presentation by representatives from ExLibris? Advice off the top of your head would be fine, and could be privately communicated if you think that advisable. We are currently a III Sierra user.

Many thanks -

RICHARD NOBLE :: RARE MATERIALS CATALOGUER :: JOHN HAY LIBRARY
BROWN UNIVERSITY  ::  PROVIDENCE, R.I. 02912  ::  401-863-1187
<Richard_Noble at Br<mailto:RICHARD_NOBLE at BROWN.EDU>own.edu<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__own.edu&d=DwMGaQ&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=gfxDZP5m9KyeWhmono1ADELcLUOEQEwGHybTpd5N2Wk&m=frbygXqvMB4T-SRPBZTXlTk-7tygzkOiAC0wbYO0xjU&s=HfBa2Xflhn8QcKzAoxAQBvZAuB5tB4y_4er38uG5Fto&e=>>


--
Beth Tedford, MLIS
Special Collections & Archives Assistant
Rare books cataloger
Z. Smith Reynolds Library
Wake Forest University
PO Box 7777
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
336-758-4657
tedforme at wfu.edu<mailto:tedforme at wfu.edu>
Defender of Wonders

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