In each functional area of Alma, there are tips and best practices to efficiently find what you're looking for.
General Search
Titles = bibliographic records
- All Titles = all bib records, regardless of resource type
- Physical Titles = bib records that have holdings attached, indicating physical inventory
- Electronic Titles = bib records for licensed material that gets activated/de-activated
Items = item/holding records
- Physical Items = item records for any physical inventory, regardless of format
- Electronic Titles = item records for licensed material that gets activated/de-activated
Digital = digital objects (Harvard isn't using this feature)
Resources Searches - Physical
Permanent Physical Location, In Temp Loc, and a Quirk About Alma
The quirk: once an item is place In Temp Loc, that data sticks to the item even after it is returned to its permanent location. For a precise picture of where physical materials are, follow these guidelines:
- If you want items at X Location, search for Permanent Location = X and In Temp Loc = No
- If you want items from X Location that are currently elsewhere, search for Permanent Location = X and In Temp Loc = Yes
- If you want items from everywhere that are currently at Temp Loc Y, search for Temporary Location = Y and In Temp Loc = Yes
- If you want items from Location X where they are currently Temp Loc’d to Y, search for Permanent Location = X and Temporary Location = Y and In Temp Loc = Yes
- If you want items from Location X where they used to be Temp Loc’d to Y, search for Permanent Location = X and Temporary Location = Y and In Temp Loc = No
Resources Searches - Electronic
Acquisitions/Financial Searches
Fulfillment Searches - Circulation, Course Reserves, Request Management
Reference/RTL Searches