This guide is meant to be a one stop easy to find site for everything related to our next gen ILS implementation of Alma and Primo VE. Instead of having to search trough emails and bookmark various sites, we can all just go to our LibGuides page and search for Alma to find everything we should need to know about Alma and Primo VE at any given moment. Going forward, this tab will contain quick reference links and new information for 2021! Have a general question or comment? Found an error in Alma? Want to suggest a chage to be made in Primo? Add it to our shared document in PIE: http://bit.ly/AlmaQuestions For info that's soooooo 2020, check out the 2020 Alma Primo Archive Tab above.
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Confirm your SSO in Alma (as well as in Primo VE) is/isn't working: https://bit.ly/3qa8pSf
The real work begins now... February - review migrated data in Alma (CHANGE NOTHING IN ALMA till 2nd week of March). also review the “February FALSC Alma Documents” for any errors. Don't worry about messing up the documents. Every member of our local implementation team has a copy of the original. Like with the Primo spreadsheets - pick a color & go to town!
Got training?
Oh yeah we do!
Training Checklist: https://bit.ly/32E5OH1
Tabs are listed alphabetically by first initial.
Alma PLAY ZONES are on the 1st tab & Workshops Completed is the 2nd tab.
Alma Glossary - Translates Aleph lingo into Alma lingo
Alma Role Profiles - Staff User Roles as of Jan 2021
Migration Data Prep Suggestions - Includes comments from Ex Libris
Note: All important meeting recordings and slides are on the "FALSC &/or Ex Libris Presentations" tab in the Next Gen ILS Implementation Box.
Welcome to your one stop shop for our Alma and Primo VE implementation.
Earth shattering revelations and important to-do's will live on this tab. For a more thorough update see the Good to Know box below this one.
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April 2021 To-Do's:
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March 2021 To-Do's:
February 2021 To-Do's:
January 2021 To-Do's:
Below is a list of recordings for all major meetings and/or presentations related to the ILS Implementation Project. Many of these sessions were open and available to all library staff and cover topics that touch on all aspects of the project. Click on the corresponding link to view the presentation. Slides and other information may also be available.
Event | Presenter | Date | Link | Related Info. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanguard Kickoff Meeting | Ex Libris | July 9, 2020 | Recording | ||
Vanguard Primo VE First Look | Ex Libris | September 18, 2020 | Recording | Slides | |
Full Forty Kickoff Meeting | Ex Libris | November, 10, 2020 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE Configuration Form Review | Ex Libris | December 1, 2020 | Recording (no longer available) |
Slides | |
eResources in Alma/Primo VE | FALSC Staff | December 9, 2020 | Recording | Slides | |
Leganto Demonstration | Ex Libris | February 2, 2021 | Recording | ||
Alma Spring Workshops Informational Webinar | Training Working Group | February 4, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Alma Full Forty Testload Release | Ex Libris | February 9, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Alma Data Review Workshop | FALSC Staff | February 12, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Full Forty Primo VE First Look | Ex Libris | February 16, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
eResources in Alma (Statewide eresources in the NZ, Linking parameters) | FALSC Staff | February 19, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
eResources in Alma (Finding "e" content, Display Logic rules, Autoholdings) | FALSC Staff | February 26, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE - Overview of Features (General and Links Menu) | FALSC Staff | March 5, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE - Overview of Features (Discovery Admin Session) | FALSC Staff | March 5, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Alma Analytics Workshop | Ex Libris | March 9, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE - Overview of Features 2 (Releases, Brief Results, & Facets) | FALSC Staff | March 12, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
eResources (FLVC Optimizing Alma Activations for the Central Discover Index (CDI) | Ex Libris | March 16, 2021 | N/A | Slides | |
eResources Office Hours (PubMed, Google Scholar, Database types of records) | FALSC Staff | March 19, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE - Overview of Features 3 (Record Actions, Dedup/FRBR, PubMed, & Google Scholar) | FALSC Staff | March 19, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
Primo VE - Overview of Features 4 (Permalinks, Mango redirect, EDS/Full Text Finder, adding fields to display) | FALSC Staff | March 26, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
eResources Permalinks, Mango redirect, EDS/Full Text Finder, eResources Activation spreadsheet for cutover | FALSC Staff | March 26, 2021 | Recording | Slides | |
eResources | FALSC Staff | April 2, 2021 | |||
Primo VE - | FALSC Staff | April 2, 2021 | |||
Resource Sharing in Alma - how UBorrow functionality will be configured in Alma and Primo VE | Ex Libris | April 2, 2021 | Recording | No Slides |
Last updated March 31, 2021 - Table mostly taken from FALSC Next Gen ILS Implementation LibGuide
Only the recordings from week 2 will live here. The remainder will (most likely) be posted on a date in the near future here: https://falsc.libguides.com/ILS-Implementation/spring_ws_recordings
Spring Workshop Recordings
FALSC have made the recordings of each session of the workshops available for staff to watch. The recordings listed below are from the Week 2 workshop held March 8-11, 2021. The presenter for all sessions was Pam Tejes from Ex Libris.
Please use these recordings as a refresher or to catch up on a session that you could not attend. However, they are not a substitute for the for the live, interactive sessions that are currently being offered each week until May 6th.
Also, it is imperative that if you cannot attend the Introductory session offered each Monday morning from 9:30-10:30am, but you are attending other sessions later in the week, that you watch the recording of the Introductory session. For instance, if you registered to attend one or more sessions on Fulfillment (Circulation) which are offered on Wednesday and Thursday, you should either attend the Monday morning session or watch the recording listed on this page. Information given in the Introduction session will not be repeated explicitly in other sessions.
[Note: There were two technical issues during the workshop that temporarily halted the session and stopped the recording. Because of this, the first part of session 3 and the second part of session 8 have multiple recordings.]
Session | Date Recorded | Topics Covered | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Introduction | March 08, 2021 Morning |
Introduction Workshop Overview Inventory Model, Searching User Roles and Tasks |
Video Recording (1hr 5min) |
Session 1 | March 08, 2021 Morning |
Technical Services Overview |
Video Recording (1hr 7min) |
Session 2 Part 1 |
March 08, 2021 Afternoon |
Ordering |
Video Recording |
Session 2 Part 2 |
March 08, 2021 Afternoon |
Receiving, Activating Receiving One-time Receiving Subscriptions (with/without predictions) Activating E-Resources |
Video Recording (1:13 min) |
Session 3 Part 1 |
March 09, 2021 Morning |
Invoicing |
Video Recording |
Session 3 Part 2 |
March 09, 2021 Morning |
Manual Cataloging and Record Management Post-Receiving Processing & Work Orders Metadata Editor: Templates, Locked Records, Copy Cataloging Authority Control Item Editor |
Video Recording (1hr, 30min) |
Session 4 | March 09, 2021 Afternoon |
Bulk Catalog, Inventory, and Delivery Maintenance Import Profiles PDA/DDA Bulk Processing: Records, Inventory, Order Lines, Users |
Video Recording (1hr 38min) |
Session 5 | March 09, 2021 Afternoon |
Technical Services Q & A |
Video Recording (1hr 35min) |
Session 6 Part 1 |
March 10, 2021 Morning |
Fulfillment Overview |
Video Recording |
Session 6 Part 2 |
March 10, 2021 Morning |
User Management and Notices User Records: Structure, Ownership, Synchronization Registering New Users Customizing and Test Notices |
Video Recording |
Session 7 | March 10, 2021 Afternoon |
Patron Services Loan, Return Fines and Fees Overriding Blocks |
Video Recording |
Session 8 Part 1 |
March 11, 2021 Morning |
Requests & Resource Sharing |
Video Recording (1hr 11min) |
Session 8 Part 2 |
March 11, 2021 Morning |
Course Reserves Courses and Reading Lists Scan-in Reserve Management |
Video Recording |
Session 9 | March 11, 2021 Afternoon |
Fulfillment Q & A |
Video Recording |
All institutions will go live on Alma/Primo VE on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
In order to successfully transition all data from Aleph to Alma, it will be necessary to pause various system processes and services currently available to library staff and patrons. Below is a timeline that details when these processes and services will be affected. Please be assured that the dates listed were not made arbitrarily, but rather after numerous discussions between FALSC and Ex Libris; both keeping in mind the amount of time needed to successfully convert the data and the desire to allow the least amount of disruption to library services as possible.
March 1, 2021 - May 7, 2021 - Ex Libris Spring Workshops
March 10, 2021 - Functionality Testing Officially Begins
FALSC New ILS Implementation Timeline (All Phases): https://falsc.libguides.com/ILS-Implementation/timeline
Eight Working Groups:
They want YOU !
To facilitate this broad participation, FALSC has set up eight discussion lists, one for each working group, where any library staff can subscribe. Each working group is obligated to post notes from each of their meetings to their respective discussion list and monitor all messages posted to it. The working groups are also encouraged to post questions to the list asking for input. They may also sponsor open web meetings from time to time to invite discussion on a particular topic. These lists are a wonderful way to stay informed and contribute to the project.
Feel free to subscribe to as many of these lists as you want. Joining a list is pretty straightforward, and instructions are listed below.
How to join an Alma/Primo VE Implementation Discussion List
ILS-ACQ-SER-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-ACQ-SER-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-CAT-AUTH-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-CAT-AUTH-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-CIRC-RS-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-CIRC-RS-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-DISCOVERY-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-DISCOVERY-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-ERM-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-ERM-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-JOINT-USE-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-JOINT-USE-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-SYS-REP-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-SYS-REP-DISCUSSION&A=1
ILS-TRAINING-DISCUSSION https://listserv.flvc.org/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=ILS-TRAINING-DISCUSSION&A=1
FALSC Next Gen ILS Implementation Homepage FALSC "will be using this LibGuide to share information among the teams, Working Groups and Discussion Groups outlined in the Organization Framework for Implementation Document and the Organizational Framework for Implementation Graphic. Please feel free to check back to this guide often for updates and the latest information on this exciting project." Everything you ever wanted to know about the ILS transition lives here. |
Some early notes for April, from various sources.
Item Process Statuses:
In Aleph, Item Process Statuses were usually used to designate items as undergoing a "behind the scenes" process in cataloging, acquisitions, or circulation. Adding an IPS to an item made it easy to find them using Aleph's reports.
Alma does not use Item Process Statuses and instead uses Work Orders and Work Order Statuses to keep track of items requiring processing. In Alma, instead of running a report to find items that require work, they are available in a list and can be retrieved with just a few clicks.
The following are the Item Process Status Codes for our Institution:
Polk | ||
Item Status | Item Process Status | Description |
## | OI | Order Initiated |
## | OR | On Order |
## | IP | In process |
## | MI | Missing |
## | WD | Withdrawn |
## | OD | On Display |
## | SB | Sent to Binder |
## | SC | Send to Cataloging |
## | CT | In Cataloging |
## | CA | Cancelled |
## | BP | Binding Preparation |
## | BD | In House Repair |
## | DM | Damaged |
## | CL | Claimed |
## | NA | Has Not Arrived |
## | FO | Faculty Office |
## | NP | Not Published |
## | TE | Technical Department |
## | VC | Vendor Cancelled |
## | LC | Library Cancelled |
## | DO | In Dept. Office |
## | NR | RegularLoan/NonRequest |
## | NC | NonCirculating |
## | CO | Claimed Lost |
## | CR | Claimed Returned |
## | AL | Assumed Lost |
## | LO | Lost |
## | NO | Not Ordered |
## | IL | ILL |
## | IS | In-Storage |
A printable version of this list as well as related cleanup instructions for Aleph/Alma can be found in PIE: HERE
Digital Functionality in Alma Webinar - Ex Libris webinar held April 5th
Additional notes will be added to the March tab through 4/20/21 - after the mid-month meetings. Check back for the latest & the greatest!
Some early notes for March, from various sources. Additional notes will be added to the March tab through 3/20/21
Primo customizations – We can do our own (to a point) or have FALSC do it for us – After playing around a bit, we opted to go with the FALSC version using our branded colors & it’s now on our live site.
Analytics webinar – hopefully staff all understand what needs to be created & what already exists, etc.
FALSC- Working on 3rd party integrations.
Latest Timeline
May 1st - UBorrow is suspended (UBorrow demo for Alma – beginning of April – You should have received an email invite from me on 3/11 to register for this)
May 27th COB – Tech Services Freeze Begins – (6-week freeze) this is as tight as they could make the timeline.
May 28th – FALSC copies EVERYTHING from Aleph Production Server
June 15th – Alma Configuration Freeze
June 28th – Automated processes cease in Aleph - EXCEPT those directly affecting circulation
July 2nd – Patron loads stop
July 8th COB - Fulfillment (circulation) freeze Friday 9th – 12th
Use offline circ program or something else… FALSC will host a How to use Alma offline circ software special webinar – details much later
July 9th – Aleph placed into “read only” mode till July 2022 (1 year)
July 13th - A BRAND NEW DAY
Q&A - The was some discussion and concerns about vendor records, acquisitions,.. – not us!
Love timelines and want to know more?
FALSC added a new tab on their implementation timeline page for the “Go-Live Phase” (An overview of their To-Do’s for those that are interested) - https://falsc.libguides.com/ILS-Implementation/timeline
Spring workshops – 10 weeks of training. There are 9 sessions & the first session is an intro session.
Session |
Date Recorded |
Topics Covered |
LInk |
Introduction |
March 08, 2021 |
Introduction |
Survey Update
Q&A:
Potential training for after Go Live - Link ebooks to ERM
OMG - So many important meetings for February - many of which you will probably want to watch or at least view the slides for.
Where are these slides & recordings?
So glad you asked! Why, they are now in the box above this one on the "FALSC &/or Ex Libris Presentations". FALSC just added a similar table to their LibGuide today & I totally stole it! (With Daves' permission of course - got it in writing!)
Biggest takeaways from the multiple February meetings so far:
*We received one of our two BIG Valentine’s Day gifts from FALSC late Tuesday 2/9/21 afternoon - Our instance of Alma (replacing - Aleph)
We will get our instance of Primo VE (replacing - Mango) sometime next week
There are 2 links to our Alma instance & 1 to the Network Zone. All three links and their explanations are in the “It’s Finally Here” box on this page, as well as at the top of the Play Zones tab in our Alma/Primo VE training checklist.
Next 3 weeks: Get comfortable searching & verify our data migrated “correctly.”
We were instructed NOT to Change ANY data until the end of the month (when functional/workflow testing will begin.
A few things to spot check:
Data:
Users:
*We were also gifted with multiple documents that initially appeared torturous, but now seem much less so. FALSC (with the help of Aleph) has prepopulated most of the answers! We basically need to double check them and see if anything needs to be changed. Copies of all those documents are in the “February FALSC Alma Documents” folder in PIE. This link also lives at the top of the Play Zones tab in our Alma/Primo VE training checklist. (Things that do not pertain to us (ex/ Acquisitions) should be left blank).
Remember - We need you!
Next Friday – “Open hours” meeting – Topic: NEW eresource activation worksheets… linking parameters (looking forward to cutover) – Jarrod & Shannon will attend.
UBorrow - Stop date before cutover - Tentatively 5/1/21. There will be additional information about this later.
March – May: Functional testing, & workshops, & setting up of 3rd party integration, Oh my!
Overview/Status of the Alma Implementation (as of 1/13/21)
Webinars / Workshops / Trainings
Reports subgroup of the Systems-Reports Working Group
End of February – timeline for the freeze for “cutover” will be finalized. (cataloging, circ)
Updates on Work by ILS Coordinators
Other & Future Topics:
Document Name | Date Due | Date Submitted |
---|---|---|
“Item Status and Collection Clean Up” | 10/14/2020 | 10/13/2020 |
Borrower Status Clean Up spreadsheet | 11/20/2020 | 11/7/2020 |
“Duplicate Barcodes” report - optional (but important) | 10/23/2020 | Completed by Melissa on our behalf 10/23/2020 |
eResources Activation Form | 11/6/2020 | Revised version submitted 11/6/2020 |
Alma Staff Roles Worksheet | 1/15/2021 | 1/14/21 |
Primo VE Configuration Forms | 1/13/2021 | 1/11/21 |
Patron Load Test Files | 2/1/2021 | 1/29/21 |
Final eResources Activation Form | 5/13/2021 | |
Patron Load New Test File & Survey... | 4/16/2021 | Waiting for IT - whimper |