WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:
Many materials have already been cataloged by other institutions, so you have the ability to copy those bibliographic records into Alma from OCLC. First you will need to set up OCLC Connexion. These instructions show how to set up the Connexion Client, but there is also a web-based version.
HOW TO DO THIS:
Instructional video by Bettie George Frye (Ashland)
Additional Resources:
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:
Bibliographic records which are retrieved in OCLC Connexion need to be imported into Alma, where they can be further edited using the metadata editor, and for which holdings and items can be attached. You will need to export records from either the OCLC Connexion Client or the Web-based version, and then import them into Alma using an import profile.
HOW TO DO THIS:
Instructional video by Bettie George Frye (Ashland) & Robyn Williams (Big Sandy)
Additional Resources:
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:
Once bibliographic records are imported into Alma, the next step is to attach holdings and items to the bibliographic record. Bibliographic records contain most of the metadata and serve as the record that is used across the system. Holdings are library-specific records, and Items are the inventory records attached to the holdings.
HOW TO DO THIS:
Instructional video by Colin Magee (Madisonville) & Courtney Jordan (Bluegrass)
Additional Resources:
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:
When it’s time to remove items from Alma, there are a few ways you can approach this. You can withdraw items one by one, or create an itemized set containing barcodes, and run a withdraw items job on that set. You also need to remove items from your OCLC holdings in Connexion.
HOW TO DO THIS:
Instructional video by Colin Magee (Madisonville)
Additional Resources:
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT:
In some instances, it makes sense to quickly add items to the Alma inventory which might not have or need the extensive metadata found in bibliographic records. Examples include equipment, paperbacks, or instructors’ copies placed on reserve. You can also add a temporary item to an existing holdings at the point of checkout if the item hasn’t been processed yet, and then you can edit it later.
HOW TO DO THIS:
Instructional video by Colin Magee (Madisonville)
Additional Resources:
